Gloria’s Reviews > In Their Eyes > Status Update

Chapter 14

A competent police chief doesn’t usually create a personal archive of felony evidence against himself for no reason. That’s a glaring problem with the theory as currently constructed.

Chapter 10

The novel has moved from individual suspicion to systemic suspicion.

Earlier I questioned specific people (Stephen, the professor, Hank).

Now I'm beginning to wonder whether multiple characters are connected in ways Gracie doesn't understand.

Whether that theory proves true or not, the book has successfully created the feeling that Gracie is operating inside a system she can't fully see.

Chapter 9:

What if Gracie is living in a personalized psychological Truman Show? 🤯

The mystery is becoming increasingly effective because I care about the answer emotionally, not just intellectually. I don’t want Hank to be guilty. Not because the evidence isn’t suspicious, but because the story has made me believe he genuinely loves Gracie. The possibility that both things could somehow be true is whats keeping me turning the pages.

One of the most unsettling aspects so far is that Gracie has very few people she can genuinely trust. The adults around her either feel suspicious, unavailable, or emotionally distant. I’ve found myself wanting her to have one trustworthy adult to confide in, which only heightened the feeling of isolation. The mystery is effective, but the loneliness underneath it is what is lingering the most.

Chapter 5 Observation

Several scenes have been difficult to read, not because they’re graphic, but because they capture the vulnerability of early adulthood with uncomfortable accuracy.

The novel creates a sense of dread not only through its mystery, but through its recreation of early adulthood. Gracie’s uncertainty, difficulty with boundaries, and desire to be accepted make her feel vulnerable in ways that are more unsettling than the supernatural elements. Reading it feels like revisiting a period of life where everything felt bigger, scarier, and more consequential than it does now.

Early Strengths (Chapters 1–2)

* Strong sense of atmosphere.
* Captures the emotional reality of starting university well.
* Gracie’s anxiety feels authentic and relatable.
* Social tension is currently more unsettling than the supernatural elements.
* Raven is quickly becoming one of the most compelling characters.
* The novel understands that fear comes from external threats and wanting to belong.