whitneydaniell

by: Alex Finlay
published: May 28, 2024
genre: Thriller, Mystery
336 Pages, E-Book ARC Courtesy of NetGalley
GoodReads Link

Synopsis

For the past five years, Ryan Richardson has relived that terrible night. The car door ripping open. The crushing blow to the head. The hands yanking him from the vehicle. His girlfriend Ali’s piercing scream as she is taken.

With no trace of Ali or the car, a cloud of suspicion hangs over Ryan.

Until, on a summer trip abroad to Italy, Ryan sees the man who has haunted his dreams since that night. As Ryan races from the rolling hills of Tuscany, to a rural village in the UK, to the glittering streets of Paris in search of the truth, he has no idea that his salvation may lie with a young sheriff’s deputy in Kansas working her first case, and a mobster in Philadelphia who’s experienced tragedy of his own.

I. The Story / Plot

Get ready for a journey through some of the most breathtaking European landscapes, but buckle up because this story will lead you through the shadowy waters of the mob underworld. With multiple storylines and timelines, the lives of the characters collide in one significant way.

Our adventure kicks off in Leavenworth, Kansas, with high school sweethearts Ryan and Alison. They’re trying to hold on to the magic of their young romance as they prepare to head off to different universities in the fall. Fast forward five years, and Ryan, now in Italy with Georgetown Law classmates, is desperately trying to forget the most painful chapter of his life—the night Alison went missing and the aftermath that followed. Just a few days before his trip ends, a chance encounter with a man straight from his nightmares changes the course of Ryan’s life, sending him on a tumultuous journey to find Ali.

In present-day Leavenworth, enter Poppy McGee, a young classmate of Ryan and Alison’s, a few years their junior. Poppy’s older brother, Dash, played basketball with Ryan and was close friends with Ali. On her first day as a Deputy Sheriff, Poppy unwittingly finds herself back in the thick of the Alison Lane disappearance case. Little does she know, that her initiation into law enforcement will shake up her world like a kid shaking a snow globe.

Meet Shane O’Leary, a family man, community advocate, and mob boss—all before his first sip of coffee in the morning. Shane’s thirst for vengeance knows no bounds. The story takes us back five years to Alison’s disappearance and, ultimately, ten years before the present day. When it comes to protecting the O’Leary family, Shane’s resolve is boundless. As Confucius said, “Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.” Shane O’Leary might just put that theory to the test.

II. Characters

Ryan Richardson, now Smith, has grappled with guilt for the past five years over the night Ali disappeared—survivor’s guilt, to be exact. The trauma of being blamed and having his peers chant “killer” at his basketball game weighed heavily on him, and my heart broke for him. That is until he unleashed some pent-up frustrations in the art gallery. He’s not a killer, and I believe he’s poised to do some good in the world.

Poppy McGee, by all accounts, feels like a disgrace to her family, although I’m not quite sure why! She’s been honorably discharged from the Army after punching her CO in the nose due to harassment. In my book, that’s something to be proud of.

There’s a cast of characters propelling the story forward, like Sheriff Ken. While the narrative hints that we should suspect him in Ali’s disappearance, I didn’t fall into that trap. Dash, Poppy’s brother, seems like he’s thrown in to divert attention, but again, I didn’t take the bait. One character I pegged immediately was Agent Fincher. Call it a hunch or keen observation, but I had her figured out halfway through the book.

As with many mysteries and thrillers, there are numerous characters and moving parts meant to throw you off the scent, making you believe in one story only for it to be nowhere near the truth in the end. This story is no different—lots of players and roles in the grand scheme, but when it all unravels, zoom in.

III. The Writing

The writing and pacing were absolute winners for me—this book had me completely hooked! While I could have easily finished it in one day, I opted for a few breaks, leaving myself with about 50 pages to devour the next day. Every word on those pages carried weight; there was no fluff or filler. What I appreciated most about the writing was the need to pay close attention to descriptions and dialogue. It constantly kept me on my toes, asking: who’s talking? Where are they? Who’s present? And, most importantly, what is being said? It’s a call to attention that I relished!

IV. My Final Thoughts

Loved it. I don’t want to give away too much but, I loved this book!