Author: Heather Chavez
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: February 18. 2020
Book Description: Packed with the electrifying pacing and pulse-pounding suspense of Harlan Coben and Lisa Gardner, a thrilling debut about a mother desperate to find the connections between her missing husband and a deadly stalker who knows too much about her own dark family history.
Driving home one rainy night, Cassie Larkin sees a man and woman fighting on the side of the road. After calling 911, the veterinarian makes a split-second decision that will throw her sedate suburban life into chaos. Against all reason and advice, she gets out of her minivan and chases after the violent man, trying to help his victim. When Cassie physically tries to stop him, he suddenly turns on her and spits out an ominous threat: “Let her die, and I’ll let you live.”
A veterinarian trained to heal, Cassie can’t let the woman die. But while she’s examining the unconscious victim, the attacker steals her car. Now he has her name. Her address. And he knows about her children. Though they warn her to be careful, the police assure her that the perpetrator—a criminal named Carver Sweet—won’t get near her. Cassie isn’t so sure.
The next day—Halloween—her husband disappears while trick-or-treating with their six-year-old daughter. Are these disturbing events a coincidence or the beginning of a horrifying nightmare? Her husband has been growing distant—is it possible he’s become involved with another woman? Is Cassie’s confrontation with the road-side attacker connected to her husband’s disappearance? With all these questions swirling in her mind Cassie can trust no one, maybe not even herself. The only thing she knows for sure is that she can’t sit back while the people she loves are in danger.
As she desperately searches for answers, Cassie discovers that nothing is as random as it seems, and that she is more than willing to fight—to go the most terrifying extremes—to save her family and her marriage.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Review: Let me start by saying this will be 100% spoiler free review, as all my reviews are, but definitely want to make that clear for this type of thriller. This is a very intricate story that Chavez has put together, and for this being a debut it kind of blew my mind.
This book centers around Cassie. She is a wife, mother of two and a veterinarian. This book opens when Cassie is driving home from work and passes a man and women fighting on the side of the road. Cassie calls 911, and while they tell her to stay in her car, she feels the need to help. The man throws the women down and gives Cassie a threat that inevitably changes the course of her life.
The next day her husband goes missing while taking his daughter out trick-or-treating. This begins a very twisty story, that changes directions multiple times. Once you think you have it, don’t worry you will be thrown on a completely route.
Chavez does such a wonderful job, with this story. She must have started with the intricacies of the planned mystery and worked in the rest of the story. Don’t worry character’s do not lack at all. I absolutely could not put this book down at all. I am kind of meh on thrillers but this one should go straight to the top of your lists if you enjoy this genre.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Obsessed Bookaholic 