If you’re debating reading this book, skip this review as it is engrossed with spoilers! If you’ve read it but were left comparing it to recycled book tropes from ” not another twist,” or scratching your head because, “wait, that didn’t make sense,” or counting the plot holes, read on…

The first line of a book will make or break the tone that determines what the audience perceives as worthwhile or redundant. If you have read reviews that compare this book to others like The Woman on the Train or The Woman in the Window, then I can tell you they are for the most part true. However, there was a unique plot and twists.

The book is separated by Now, Then, and Later. We are led to believe that the person the main character, Casey, has tied up at the start is the husband who is accused of killing his wife, Tom. Then we find out that it is actually the neighbor, Boone, who has been tied up. Still incorrect! We ultimately discover that it is the missing wife, Kat, who has been tied up the entire time…only it isn’t actually Kat, it’s Casey’s dead husband (Len) reincarnated. These were the best twists throughout the entire book,

The character descriptions were a bit flat. The exception is over-emphasizing how beautiful, gorgeous, and “hot” all of these rich people (or friends of rich people) are. The only other trait that we gather from the main character is that she’s an alcoholic. To the extent that it is in no way believable for anyone who has faced this condition or knows anyone who has.

I do give the author, Riley Sager, kudos for maintaining the suspense consistently.

The ending is where things begin to pile up and move at a faster pace. It’s also where the reader might begin to disapprove of how unrealistic the entire scenario is. I completely understand that it is a supernatural work of fiction, but the goal is to expand our belief, right? That just didn’t happen here.

For example, I did not see any point in Casey releasing Len to show her where the bodies were. It was made clear a few times that he could not be trusted, but she took a very big chance releasing him in order to discover information that he could have just told her while in the basement. In addition, she instantly trusted that where he took her to find the bodies of the dead girls was accurate. The cop who she later showed also took Casey’s word for it.

I also did not buy into Eli believing that Len was in Kat’s body after chatting with him for 20 minutes, and his reason being “because he told me it was him.” Okay? So, you believe a supermodel claiming to be your neighbor’s dead husband? Maybe this part could work because Eli is known to be superstitious, but there’s still a side-eye given that nothing like this has happened to him before, that we’re aware of.

By the way, what’s with all the dead spouses, anyway? Eli’s wife died, Boone’s wife died, Casey’s husband died (granted, she killed him, but Boone was accused of killing his wife), and Tom was trying to kill his wife.

Speaking of the last part, revealing that even after all of the Len adventures died down Tom was still trying to kill his wife was excessive. This could have been left out and wrapped up in the book without it. I found it dry to have Tom show up a day or so after the girl’s bodies were found to kill Casey right on her porch where anyone could see. That would have obviously brought even more attention to him from the cops so there is no way I could see him doing this.

In addition, Kat had the cop test a piece of broken glass that Tom allegedly served his wife a drink of wine from. That would have absolutely not held up in court. That glass could have come from anywhere and would be tainted with Casey’s fingerprints. That wouldn’t even be enough for a search warrant.

While I have several other criticisms, I actually did enjoy the book. It wasn’t until the final chapters that I felt like things took a turn, but 75% of the book was engaging and a page-turner.

4/5 bookmarks from me! I hope you enjoyed it as well. I’ve seen mixed reviews about it, but we’re in 2022 and there are only so many imaginative ideas left to be written so let’s give writers a little more leniency with the thriller genre!

I’m happy to report that I found this book much more satisfying and original to read than The Girl on the Train.