Starred review from May 15, 2024
Williams (The Other Mistress, 2023) returns with another thriller full of shocking twists. Jolene Baker, a wealthy heiress to her father's oil company, lives a comfortable life with her politician husband. Dominic Baker is running for governor of North Carolina, and Jolene's days are dedicated to helping him and overseeing the small tea shop she owns. But Dominic is a calculating liar, and their marriage has eroded over the years. He's also hiding a devastating secret, which is revealed through flashbacks. Four years ago, he rendezvoused with his high school girlfriend, Brynn--and now he's being threatened with letters about her. While Dominic struggles to cover up the indiscretion, Jolene becomes increasingly suspicious. With no loyalty to him or investment in their relationship, she charges forward to uncover the truth. There are disturbing events in the story, but Williams provides a short foreword explaining the triggers. She is also deft as she moves through different points of view at a breathless pace. Her dive into the mind of a sociopath is both chilling and wholly believable. Readers of B. A. Paris and Freida McFadden will cheer for Jolene and her allies throughout.
COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.