By Andrea Bartz
(Reviewed by Carol Clancy)
Emily and Kristen have been best friends since college. Emily believes there is no one she can trust more than Kristen, so much so that when Emily is attacked on a trip they take together to Cambodia, Kristen kills the perpetrator in what appears to be an act of self-defense. Because they are in a foreign country, the two women hide the body, cover up the killing, and agree to tell no one. A year later, Emily believes this is all behind them when they take another trip to Chile, until an eerily similar scene plays out with Kristen now the victim of an attack. The women cover up the killing again and agree to tell no one else – again. By now, Emily is suspicious. How could two such similar events happen to them? It doesn’t seem possible. Kristen’s behavior is also starting to concern her. She has gone from her best friend to a kind of stalker. The tension builds as Emily tries to navigate the situation, while also starting a new relationship and seeing a therapist.
This novel will keep you up at night, especially if you’ve ever had a friendship you’ve questioned. The tension can become almost unbearable at times. It becomes clear what’s going on early in the novel, but that doesn’t make it any less suspenseful as Emily tries desperately to be a normal young woman, while hiding multiple crimes and keeping a volatile friendship under control. The suspense builds to a chaotic climax and then a mostly satisfying ending. This is not a deep or literary book, but if you are looking for a good suspense novel, this one will likely satisfy you.
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