![](/image-factory/http/backend-test.booklife.com/images/data/PROJECT/cover_image/000/088/88588-1.JPG/w350.jpg)
![](/images/bl-reviews-logo-small.png)
Lovett’s twisty plotting and brisk storytelling will keep readers on their toes, as Liberty now must add another item to her long list of challenges—find out who murdered Sam, while taking care of Emmy, determining what her next steps are in life, and trying to decide if she can trust and forgive Dallas. As she digs for the truth, she uncovers secrets, lies, violence, and genuine surprises that upend all expectations. Throughout, writing in swift but feeling-packed prose, Lovett demonstrates canny understanding of the moment-to-moment choices a woman like Liberty faces, the thriller elements never diminishing the tragic reality of abuse.
Lovett has made a name writing stories through the eyes of strong, complex female characters, something still too rare in this genre. A believable darkness lingers throughout, but Liberty’s strength and heart lighten it. Readers will cheer on Liberty as she makes hard decisions to figure out her own life’s path and what cut short her dear friend’s—who it turns out, she barely knew at all. Loves of emotionally-driven mysteries will find much to enjoy here.
Takeaway: Swift, emotional mystery of murder, abuse, and a woman finding her path.
Comparable Titles: Kimberly Belle’s Dear Wife, Rowan Coleman’s The Runaway Wife.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A