Author: J. P. Pomare
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Publisher: Mulholland Books
Publication Date: September 8, 2020
Book Description: A ticking-clock thriller that braids together the stories of a girl raised in a terrifying cult, and of an overprotective single mother whose fears for her child are about to come true.
Amy has only ever known what life is like in the Clearing, with her brothers and sisters–until a newcomer, a younger girl, joins the “family” and offers a glimpse of the outside world. Freya is living an isolated life with her son and their dog, going to great lengths to keep contact with the outside world like an “everyday mum” while being utterly terrified by it. When a news breaks of a missing girl–a child the same age as Freya’s son, Billy–Amy and Freya’s stories intertwine, and the secrets of the past will crawl inexorably into the present.
Rating: 2 1/2 Stars
Review: A thriller, set in Australia, this is a story of a cult and felt eerily similar to the real cult The Family, This is a very hard review for me to write, as I just did not love this book. I found myself just trying to get through it. At least the book had a fast pace.
Amy grew up in the Clearing all her life with her siblings and that is all she knew. One day Freya joins the group with her young son and Amy’s eye’s open up to the possibilities of what is on the outside.
As you read the book, it has dual timelines, told weeks and days prior to the pivotal event of a kidnapping and the days just after. This book just was just so-so. I found it very dull, for this thriller genre. I personally love cult stories, but this one did not come together for me, like I personally wanted.
Thank you NetGalley and Mulholland Books for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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