Challenge Corner discussion

A pulse-pounding new Southern thriller from the author of the runaway bestseller A Flicker in the Dark.

Twenty-two years ago, Claire Campbell’s older sister, Natalie, disappeared shortly after her eighteenth birthday. Days later, her blood was found in a car, a man was arrested, and the case was swiftly closed. In the decades since, Claire has attempted to forget her traumatic past by moving to the city and climbing the ranks as an investigative journalist... until an unexpected call from her father forces her to come back home and face it all anew.

With the entire summer now looming ahead—a summer spent with nothing to do in her childhood home, with her estranged mother—Claire decides on a whim to accept a seasonal job at Galloway Farm, a muscadine vineyard in coastal South Carolina less than an hour away from where she grew up. At first glance, Galloway is an idyllic escape for Claire. A scenic retreat full of slow-paced nostalgia, as well as a place where her sister seemed truly happy in that last summer before she vanished, it feels like the perfect plan to pass the time. However, as soon as Claire starts to settle in, she stumbles across an old diary written by one of the vineyard's owners, and what at first seems like a story of young rebellion and love turns into something much more sinister as it begins to describe details of various unsolved crimes. As the days stretch on, Claire finds herself becoming more and more secluded as she starts to obsess over the diary's contents… as well as the lingering feeling that her own sister's disappearance may be somehow tied to it all.

Galloway was supposed to be a place to help her move forward, but instead, Claire quickly finds herself immersed in her own dark and dangerous past.

Ugh, I got behind

okay, planning to start tomorrow!

okay, shuffling still - tentatively set for 6/14

sounds good! that actually works better for me

12 chapters / 25%

oooh interesting start
(view spoiler)[ well, can't help but wonder if the farm and people there are going to somehow be tied to what happened to her sister

wonder what's on that roll of film. . .

and wow, the diary of Marcia - Marcia didn't seem to . . .aware - I wonder what we'll learn of their relationship

and I'm really sad her mom wasn't happier to have her daughter there. My mom would be so excited to have me just as I would love having my kids here with me! (hide spoiler)]

26 chapters / 50%

(view spoiler)[ it's getting creepy! Interesting that I don't think it's the same Lily - but what does that mean? hmmm. . .

and I like Liam but I get the feeling he knows more and is trying to make sure she's okay. But I get the feeling that he kind of "chose" her - if that makes sense.

and I wonder if Marcia is not the innocent we think she is. Could she have gotten jealous that Mitch wasn't just hers? Could she be a danger and that's why they are drugging her?
or is Mitch really gross - just gathering up teens and hurting them or keeping them?

I wonder how this all ties to her sister? how many kids have gone missing over the years

OH and I hate that she isn't going into town at all - to get her own supplies or anything. She can easily disappear now - there's no record she was ever there. or that she's even in town (hide spoiler)]

40 chapters / 75%

hmm for some reason (view spoiler)[ I thought her sister was just missing and no one had been convicted

I just knew it would go back around to that summer she spent working there but WOW I never guessed that the mom would be tied to the farm too! Yikes!

and wow, the camper. I wonder if she'll find it.

and omg hiding in the house. but it really seemed like Liam knew she was in there, right? I still think he might not be the best guy. . .I worry he's been there so long that he helps Mitchell stay under the radar for whatever he's doing.

interesting how the detective and her sister's best friend different stories about where the info came from. . .

curious to see how this all works out! (hide spoiler)]

and done

(view spoiler)[ wow, I never expected all those twists! Siblings! never guessed it
and that the mom would come swooping in - even though she had kind of already saved herself at that point with Liam's help

and wow! that it was Lily. I did wonder if she was actually violent, just never guessed the different Who!!
(hide spoiler)]

I loved this one! so good!

I’ll get onto this likely tomorrow!

Trisha wrote: "12 chapters / 25%
. ..."

started last night! at first I noticed I was reading slowly then by the time I stopped, I realized I was at 30% without even noticing

loving the pace of the book so far and truly I enjoy the books that have characters reading journals. I don't know why that's such a big plus for me

(view spoiler)[ I can't wait to see what was on the film... I felt so bad her mother was so fine with having her leave after 15 years of not being back there. agreed with what you said. UGH so sad

the carving in the wall.. uh gives MAJOR creep vibes (I don't remember if this is after the 25% mark or not)

can't wait to find out more about Marcia. is she mute? I wonder what's going on there (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "26 chapters / 50%

.."

(view spoiler)[ I almost wonder if Liam is their kid? Which would make sense on why he knows so much about the land. He's definitely giving off "chose" her, I can see what you're saying.

it's a recipe for disaster.. how she's lying to practically everyone on where she's currently at.. ahhhh (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "40 chapters / 75%..."


(view spoiler)[ it was a BIG shock when Annie was her mom… what a small world, but makes sense with her reaction to Nathalie working there…

I know she’s an investigator but taking it into her own hands to find the camper uhhh… yeah great idea

Thinking the detective is shrugging it all off to keep the case closed, especially if it was the big case that got him the promotion (hide spoiler)]

Finished thoughts

(view spoiler)[ what a ride at the end, I have to say out of the past books she’s written this one came close to her debut. As in I loved the writing style and the storyline more than her past ones.

THANK GOODNESS Luke came through at the end.

I HAD no idea they would have been siblings… I thought lovers forsure but not half siblings.. wow a cult practically dragging people in and making them feel accepted only to trap them.

Poor Luke not knowing it was his mom but rather lily the entire time so sad (hide spoiler)]

YAY!! I'm so glad you liked this one too!

the twists were so well done, I didn't guess at all!