The Lives of Others

by Ellen Won Steil

A young woman is drawn into the lives of a seemingly perfect New England family. But not everything is as it appears in a riveting novel of psychological suspense by the author of Becoming Marlow Fin.

After ten hectic years in Seoul, burned-out expat Radley Asher is promised a change—working the fall season at an apple farm in idyllic Fox Isle, Maine. Hoping for solitude, Radley is instead welcomed by the effusive Clark family as one of their own. A loner like Radley finds it almost disarming.

But what’s not to like? Beau and Livia are doting parents, and their three children are absolute delights. Still, Radley prefers to keep her distance and just watch the lives of the Clarks unfold from her window. For Radley, as she’s pulled deeper into the family dynamics, watching becomes an obsession.

Then one night the orchard is set ablaze and the family is thrown into chaos. Who would do such a terrible thing? When one of the Clark children suddenly goes missing, the veneer of the perfect family is set to shatter. And in the aftermath, too many secrets stand to be exposed—including Radley’s.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Family, Mystery Thriller

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2025

About the author

Ellen Won Steil is the bestselling author of Fortune and the forthcoming Becoming Marlow Fin. She grew up in Iowa in a Korean-American family and earned her BA in journalism from Drake University and law degree from William Mitchell College of Law. She lives in Minnesota with her husband and two young sons. Ellen believes most good stories have at least a hint of darkness.

Reviews

[Shelley's Book Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

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The Book Review Crew Blog

This book was tense and intense. It’s a character-driven story about the false face suburban women wear to make people think they’re internet-perfect, but behind that perfection lie secrets waiting to be revealed. A terrible act of violence brings some of these secrets to light, shattering the illusion of the perfect neighbourhood.

The story is both gripping and thought-provoking. I loved the tension between the characters—the way their secrets are revealed is like peeling back the layers of an onion, only this one is rotten to its core. The characters are real, authentically written, and relatable; they actually act like human beings. I also appreciated how the author effectively combines suspense with emotional depth, making the plot even more impactful in this character-driven thriller. It’s an amazing read, full of mystery and intrigue hidden in the bowels of ordinary life.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Genni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle unlimited, with audio

This book starts a bit slowly, but once it picks up, it becomes a compelling read.

The narration, for those who choose that option, is well done, and the writing is equally strong. The author has a poetic touch, and her descriptions are beautiful. The chapters flow seamlessly, consistently building suspense. There are no early spoilers; all questions are answered in the final chapters, which kept me thoroughly engaged.

This unique story deeply explores the challenges of motherhood, touches on Munchausen syndrome, and features significant family drama and dynamics. It is a raw and heartbreaking narrative.

I recommend this book and plan to read more from this author. 📕

[Kayla_Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a twisty psychological thriller about a not so perfect family that had me guessing until the very end. It took a bit to really take off but once it did it was hard to put down. I will definitely have to check out more of the author’s books.

[Melany · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took a bit to get going, but once it did, I was hooked. Wow, this truly had me on the edge of my seat with the twists and making me truly second guess everything up until the final twist. I loved the depth of the main character and the "perfect family". Truly intriguing; Ellen Won Steil has a remarkable way with words! The narrator did a wonderful job, I think listening to her read it made it that much more intense and gripping for me!

I received this ARC audiobook from NetGalley and Brillian Audio to listen and review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully listening to this audiobook.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thriller was right up my alley. It's about a seemingly perfect family, but all things are not what they appear. It was quite a page turner. This is a fast paced read, and I was pulled right in. The author did an excellent job of creating complex characters. The mystery of this family was really compelling! I definitely recommend this one, it was excellent! I'll be interested in reading this author in the future!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[Stacy40pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lives of Others by Ellen Won Steil. Thanks to @suzyapprovedtours for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Radley Asher leaves her busy live in Seoul to help the Clark family with their apple farm in Maine. The Clark family seems perfect and welcome Radley immediately, but she can’t help being watchful.

This was a great twisty story that starts upbeat and innocent and ends in some majorly dark ways that I was not expecting at all. I loved the mood shift of the story. It is well done as you don’t really even notice as the spiral starts until you finish it and just think, wow.

“What kind of marriage am I living next to… this family that had swallowed me whole?”

The Lives of Others comes out 8/26.

[Krista (Mrs K Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing story. It took a bit of time for things to unfold but once it did there's was no stoping with the drama and the twists and turns.

Ellen created characters that felt real and the story was written beautifully. A definite must read if you love domestic thriller, psychological thrilers and family dramas.

[Shannon (The Book Club Mom) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Talk about a page-turner! THE LIVES OF OTHERS by Ellen Won Steil absolutely blew me away, book friends. As soon as started reading, I immediately got this strange feeling in my belly. Something didn’t seem right to me about all of the characters. Something was off. I had absolutely NO idea where the author was going to take this story. Is it a romance? Perhaps a horror novel? A domestic suspense? Or just a tried-and-true mystery/thriller? I couldn’t peg the characters or plot for the life of me, and you know what? I liked it. I enjoyed the unsettled feeling, the intrigue, the strangeness, and the odd sense of unknown.

QUICK SYNOPSIS:
“𝘈 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘌𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘍𝘪𝘯.”

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Mystery and intrigue
- Maine setting
- Motherhood and marriage
- Female friendship
- Apple farming
- Family drama and dynamics
- Character-driven novels
- Starting over stories
- Slow-burning pace
- Complex female characters

My best advice is to go in completely blind like I did. As I write this review, I honestly still don’t even know how to properly describe this book. It’s mysterious, suspenseful, complex, heartbreaking, shocking, and super entertaining. I found it impossible to put down. It’s truly one of a kind.

I went back and forth over my rating, hemmed and hawed for a few days, but have come to the conclusion that this novel deserves a full 5/5 stars. Mostly because I like the feeling that it gave me—that uneasiness. It’s been a while since a book made me feel that way. I absolutely love the author’s writing style and have already downloaded her previous novels. They’re all available on kindle unlimited, FYI!

THE LIVES OF OTHERS releases on August 26th!
5/5 stars!

[Courtney Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lives of Others is another fabulous five star read by Ellen Won Steil! I could not put it down! This book is an engrossing and intricately woven thriller with twists and turns that you will never see coming. As soon as I thought I knew what was happening, another detail would be revealed that would shock me and completely derail any ideas I had. I love that Ellen Won Steil uses family drama, trauma and tension to make the storylines tug at your heartstrings and feel not only believable but absolutely relatable. In the interest of keeping this review spoiler free, I will merely say that you should read this one as blind as possible and prepare to be amazed!

(I received a #gifted physical arc of this book in exchange for my honest review)

[em · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real page turner, I was constantly surprised by the plot twists in this book. While Radley herself was a little annoying at times, especially her inner monologue, I came to terms with her as the book carried on. I really enjoyed the different perspectives between her therapy sessions and life on the orchard. This was a fantastic way of exploring characters, motherhood and the perception of perfection.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #TheLivesOfOthers #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Danielle B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come soon.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 rounded down

This wasn’t even a slow burn of a book, it was just slow. It doesn’t pick up until about 70% and even then it gets slow again. The MFC is unlikable and even infuriating at times while the ending was very predictable. I felt like I was reading 3 separate stories somehow combined into one.

[Stephanie Ostrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me guessing from the beginning to the end. A story poised to be voyeurism turns into part romance and full mystery.

It included several themes: loss, self discovery, complexities of motherhood, psychosis. The triangle created between the husband and wife main characters and the outsider, Radley, allowed the author to tell the story as observations from an insider's perspective.

With obvious foreshadowing, the plot twists and turns capturing the reader's interest that made it difficult to put the book down.

[J Grilli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book had me guessing (incorrectly) right to the end! The twists and turns in the plot had my heart pounding throughout my read. I loved how relatable the characters are despite their pathological similarities, which speaks to the universal themes the author brings to light such as the strong emotions of motherhood and the bond between mother and child. This is definitely a favorite on my bookshelf!!

[Hijabi_booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t stop thinking about The Lives of Others, even days after finishing it unsettled me in the best way. Radley’s life on a Maine apple farm coils into a tense dance of secrets and emotional unrest, brought to life through lyrical prose and haunting psychological insight. Her unreliable narration kept me guessing, and the exploration of grief and motherhood felt raw and resonant.

I loved how the tension simmered beneath everyday domesticity, making every quiet moment feel charged. The emotional arcs hit hard powerful, evocative, and wholly memorable.

That said, this isn’t a quick, fast-paced read its slow-burn unfolding may test the patience of those looking for immediate thrills. And occasionally, the emotional peaks verge on melodramatic. If you enjoy emotionally rich domestic suspense that lingers long after the final page, this should be on your TBR. I received a review copy via NetGalley—opinions are entirely my own.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is filled with psychological suspense and captivated me from start to finish. The main character, Radley, leaves Seoul, South Korea, to travel to Fox Isle, Maine, where she is set to help the Clark family on their apple farm for the fall season, all while harboring secrets from her past. Initially, the Clark family appears idyllic, but as Radley observes them more closely, she realizes that not everything is as it seems—and she isn’t the only one hiding secrets. This beautifully written thriller unfolds slowly, drawing you deeper into each chapter. Themes of loss, motherhood, mental illness, and infidelity are skillfully intertwined in this gripping page-turner.

I highly recommend adding it to your fall TBR!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not expecting to see the way this was going!

Radley accepts a position in an apple orchard and quickly becomes obsessed with this seemingly perfect Clark family. But as it always is, perfect is not what they are.

Compelling and shocking, this was a quick read. I felt for the poor kids of this family so much! When the secrets are uncovered, it's explosive and will tear relationships apart. When you find the reasons that Radley was so obsessed, it makes a bit of sense but was also kind of sad and depressing.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Radley Asher is burned out! After a decade of nonstop life in Seoul, she’s promised peace and quiet working the fall season on a charming apple orchard in Fox Isle, Maine. Sounds dreamy, right? Chill vibes, cider donuts, maybe a little self-reflection? Wrong!

The Clark family who owns the orchard is intensely warm and welcoming. Think Hallmark movie levels of perfection. And Radley, who's more comfortable observing life than participating in it, gets pulled into their world whether she likes it or not. At first she watches from a distance, telling herself she’s just a guest passing through. But then the watching turns into something else.

And then? The orchard burns down! One of the Clark kids disappears! And everyone, especially Radley is suddenly tangled in secrets they’ve been trying really hard to keep buried!

This book is a slow-build psychological drama with a sharp edge. It sneaks up on you. One minute you're thinking, "What a cozy little story," and the next you're clutching the book whispering, “Wait, what just happened?”

💥Why it works!
🍂The orchard setting is weirdly perfect serene but slightly off.
👀Radley is an A+ unreliable narrator: quiet, haunted, and a little too interested in other people’s lives.
🔥When the tension finally cracks, it cracks.

⚡️Thank you Lake Union Publishing and Ellen Won Steil for sharing this book with me!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘The Lives of Others’ by Ellen Won Steil, is at first glance a novel centred on seemingly harmonic New England family, who together with a team of loyal staff, run a busy, traditional Apple orchard in idyllic Maine. Our main character, ex-pat Radley Asher, returns to the US after a long stay in Seoul, in order to take up her friend’s offer of a temporary seasonal job on the orchard, clearly seeking nature and solitude after an unidentified trauma. However, it’s not long before picture perfect family dynamics show signs of friction as Radley covertly observes from her guest house, in a rather unnerving voyeuristic fashion. We quickly come to question Radley’s own intentions for watching the family and as a reader, the fission is palpable. We are slowly led into a dark, foreboding tale, full of twists, turns and shocking revelations and nothing is quite what it seems.

This is an absolutely cracking psychological page turner that had me hooked from the very first pages; it’s a splendid example of a book you simply cannot put down.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for an ARC.

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: The Lives of Others by Ellen Won Steil

🌏 Overview
Ellen Won Steil’s The Lives of Others is a haunting exploration of displacement, identity, and the invisible threads that bind strangers together. When burned-out expat Radley Asher leaves Seoul for a quiet apple farm on Fox Isle, he anticipates solitude—but instead uncovers a web of secrets that forces him to confront his own role in the lives of those around him. Steil’s prose is both lyrical and incisive, weaving themes of privilege, betrayal, and systemic injustice into a narrative that lingers like a shadow.

✨ Key Strengths
🍂 Atmospheric Setting – Fox Isle is rendered with such tactile detail that it becomes a character itself.
🔍 Psychological Depth – Radley’s internal turmoil feels raw and authentic, mirroring the novel’s broader social critiques.
⚖️ Moral Complexity – Steil refuses easy answers, challenging readers to sit with discomfort.
🌪️ Slow-Burn Suspense – The tension builds like a storm, culminating in a climax that’s as emotional as it is revelatory.

⚠️ Considerations
🗂️ Nonlinear Structure – Flashbacks and shifting perspectives may disorient some readers.
📜 Heavy Themes – Not for those seeking escapism; the novel grapples with weighty social commentary.

⭐ Score Breakdown (0–5 Stars)
✍️ Prose & Voice → ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) (Like a whispered confession—intimate and unnerving.)
🌍 Setting & Atmosphere → ★★★★★ (5/5)
🧠 Character Depth → ★★★★ (4/5)
🔄 Originality → ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

Overall: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
A mirror held up to society—cracked, revealing, impossible to look away from.

🎯 Perfect For Fans Of
📚 Pachinko by Min Jin Lee or The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
🌐 Stories of cultural dislocation and hidden histories
💔 Narratives that blend personal and political reckonings

🙏 Gratitude
Thank you to NetGalley and Ellen Won Steil for the advance copy. The Lives of Others is a testament to the power of fiction to illuminate the fractures in our world—and ourselves.

(Note: Review based on an uncorrected proof; subject to change before publication.)

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was completely pulled into The Lives of Others from the very first page. Ellen Won Steil has such a gift for creating atmosphere, and you can almost smell the crisp fall air of the Maine orchard and feel the uneasy undercurrent running beneath the Clark family’s seemingly perfect life.

I loved Radley Asher as a narrator. She’s complicated, flawed, and unreliable in the most fascinating way. Watching her become entangled with the Clarks felt both unsettling and impossible to look away from. I found myself constantly asking: Can I trust her? Can I trust anyone in this story? That tension kept me turning the pages late into the night.
What really stayed with me, though, was how layered this book is. Yes, it’s suspenseful and twisty (and that ending wow), but it’s also a thoughtful exploration of motherhood, guilt, and the secrets we carry. The writing is lush and beautiful, which makes the darkness at the heart of the story hit even harder.

This book reminded me why I love psychological suspense so much, it’s not just about the mystery, but about peeling back the carefully constructed lives we present to the world and seeing what really lies beneath.

[Brittany W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC

I absolutely loved this book. I loved the little cliff hangers at the end of the chapters. It kept me guessing and constantly changing my mind about what I thought was going to happen and I was totally wrong! The twist left me shook. I loved the mystery of this "perfect" family - it twisted and turned and got darker then I expected (but loved) and once I got to the point of figuring out what was really going on - I couldn't put this book down.

I think my favorite part about this book though was how well Ellen was able to describe the never ending roller coaster of emotions that comes with motherhood. I really connected with how the Livia and Radley both felt about motherhood at times. The happy moments, the mom guilt, the feeling of being overwhelmed, proud, alone, busy, tired. happy, so many emotions come with motherhood and Ellen captioned them all perfectly.

This is my personal favorite of Ellen's books. It was greatly written and I can't wait for the release so I can recommend it to everyone. This one is a thriller/mystery lovers dream!

[Shell · Rating 4 out of 5]

You're tired of your life in Seoul, so what do you do? You take a sabbatical to go back to America and work in the apple orchard of a co-worker's cousin. When you get there, you find they are the perfect family. You want more of them, so you start spying on them. You become the mom's best friend. They ask you to move into the house to help with the kids! You are becoming part of the perfect family.

The perfect family you crave is falling apart. You can see the cracks now that you're front and center. Everyone over the age of ten has secrets that all lead to the slow destruction of the perfect family. All of this while you are battling the memories of the destruction of your own perfect family.

It took me a few chapters to get into this story, but once I did, I didn’t want to put it down. The storyline is great and was a surprise to me. The characters are richly written. I couldn’t tell who was good and who wasn't until the very end. This was a very enjoyable read and I recommend it to anyone who likes psychological thrillers. #GoodreadsGiveaways

[JoEllen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellen Won Steil’s The Lives of Others is a tour de force that left me utterly captivated and emotionally wrecked in the best possible way. This novel is a rare gem—a psychological thriller that delivers heart-pounding suspense while diving deep into the complexities of human relationships, motherhood, and buried secrets. From the moment I started reading, I was pulled into Radley Asher’s world, a burned-out expat seeking solace in the idyllic Fox Isle, Maine, only to find herself entangled in the seemingly perfect yet unraveling lives of the Clark family.
Steil’s storytelling is nothing short of brilliant. The pacing is impeccable, with tension building steadily as Radley’s fascination with the Clarks morphs into something darker and more obsessive. Each twist—and oh, there are many—lands with precision, keeping me on the edge of my seat and guessing until the very last page. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, Steil unveiled another layer, each revelation more shocking and satisfying than the last. The plot is intricate yet never overwhelming, weaving together themes of guilt, grief, and betrayal with a deft hand.
What sets this book apart is its emotional depth. The characters are so vividly drawn, flawed, and human that I felt their pain, their longing, and their desperation as if it were my own. Radley’s unreliable narration adds a delicious layer of intrigue, making me question what was real and what was colored by her own hidden past. The Clark family, with their polished exterior and simmering secrets, felt like people ਮ
System: people I could relate to, and their unraveling dynamic kept me glued to the pages.
Steil’s prose is lush and evocative, painting the serene yet eerie setting of the Maine apple farm so vividly I could almost smell the crisp autumn air. Yet, it’s the emotional resonance that truly elevates this novel. The exploration of motherhood, loss, and the weight of unspoken truths hit me hard, and I found myself pausing to savor the poignant moments that Steil crafts so beautifully.
This book is a steal for the unforgettable experience it delivers. Whether you’re a fan of psychological suspense, family dramas, or character-driven stories, The Lives of Others is a must-read. It’s a 5-star triumph that I’ll be recommending to everyone I know—Ellen Won Steil has earned a lifelong fan with this one!

[AJ Steil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellen Won Steil’s The Lives of Others is a triumph! A gripping, emotionally resonant psychological thriller that captivated me from start to finish. Steil masterfully weaves a tapestry of secrets, lies, and intricate relationships, crafting a slow-burn tension that intensifies with every chapter.
The plot is razor-sharp and layered, delivering twists that feel both surprising and inevitable in hindsight. Just when I thought I’d unraveled the mystery, another revelation left me reeling. Yet what elevates this novel beyond its suspense is its profound emotional depth. Steil’s characters are vividly human, wrestling with guilt, grief, and the haunting weight of past choices in ways that feel achingly authentic.
I raced through the pages, desperate to uncover what came next, yet often paused to savor the raw, vulnerable moments Steil captures so poignantly. This is a story that lingers long after the final sentence.
Highly recommended for readers who crave psychological thrillers with rich emotional complexity.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advanced reader's copy review

Another amazing book by Ellen Won Steil! I had high standards after Becoming Marlow Fin, and this book met them all. For starters, I loved the setting. It was so beautiful and familiar to me, with the small town in fall vibes. I love a seemingly idyllic setting for a thriller, and small towns always have the most secrets, so this was truly perfect. And there were so many secrets! Both our main character Radley and the Clark family had complicated pasts which were revealed over the course of the book. It was definitely a slow burn thriller, but the steadily rising tension kept me hooked the whole way through, and the ending was thrilling, emotional, and shocking. I was also very invested in the characters. Radley was unreliable but also self aware, actively seeking help. Though I did that that the therapy chapters, while effective, could have brought even more to the story. I also felt Radley lacked development in the end, and that there were some threads to her past that were left unpulled. But overall this book was amazing and I highly recommend it!

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[sarahelen.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, the story takes its time to build, but once it found its rhythm I was completely hooked. I ended up finishing it in just two days because I had to know where it was going. Steil layers in so many twists and turns that kept me guessing and I’ll admit, wrong most of the time right up until the end.

This is the second book I’ve read by Ellen Win Steil, and once again she’s delivered a tense, addictive psychological suspense that lingers after you’ve turned the final page. I’m officially adding her to my “must-buy” list.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

The idyllic small-town thriller setting....


We start out with our FMC Radley. She leaves her busy life in Seoul, South Korea, for a small town in Maine, USA. She goes to help the Clark's, a seemingly perfect family, but Radley can't help be leery...

What starts out innocent in the beginning leads into a more sinister end. The story had me guessing the twist right until it hit me. And boy, did it hit me! I guessed wrong the entire time.

You will not find any escapism in this book as there are some heavy themes. Loss, the complexities of motherhood and self-discovery.

[Nicole Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right from the start, something felt off, in the best way possible! The slow build-up of suspense was masterfully orchestrated and by the midpoint I couldn't put down this complex tale of motherhood, loss, and self-discovery. What started as a tantalizing glimpse into voyeurism slowly turned into a story of a woman being pulled into the very family she was watching while simultaneously unfolding her past. The characters were fully realized (if at moments unlikeable) and the ending was thrilling and emotional! I loved it!

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Melinda Rachlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am giving this a four for being a page turner and a quick read. I found time to read because I wanted to know how it was going to end. Any novel I read in less than a week has to be decent.

On the other hand, even though I thought the characters were engaging, I did not find their outcome believable. There were a lot of twists and turns but, for me, many were obvious. I don't want to reveal any spoilers but I found Radley's story to fall a little flat and the Clarks' stories to be a bit much. But there were some surprises, nevertheless.