Chloe Davis has an idyllic childhood. She lives in a small town in Louisiana along with her parents and her brother Cooper who is three years older. They are allowed to roam free, exploring the 10 acre plot their home is built on. The idyllic childhood comes crashing to an end when Chloe is 12 and her father is arrested for the abduction and murder of six teenage girls.
Twenty years later and Chloe is now Dr Chloe Davis, a medical psychologist. She has a successful practice and is a matter of weeks away from getting married. As the anniversary of her fathers first abduction approaches a journalist gets in touch with Chloe, however Chloe refuses to engage with the journalist, explaining that she has had no contact with her father in twenty years. Then a teenage girl goes missing close to Chloe's practice. Is there a copycat murderer about?
The style of writing really adds to the story. One moment the narrative is languid, reflecting the climate of Louisiana. The next it is quick and sharp as we feel Chloe's heart racing as if she's about to have a panic attack. Chloe is a flawed character, one moment convinced she's right about conclusions, the next full of doubt. Her choice of career could be seen as a way of trying to redeem for what her father has done but also that she is still trying to find answers for why he carried out such atrocious crimes.
Plenty of chills and misdirection as we are reminded that in real life monsters aren't the things in the closet or hiding under the bed, "real monsters move in plain sight".
This debut novel from Stacy Willingham will be published by HarperCollins UK in hardback, audio and ebook on 3rd February 2022. My thanks to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for an early release copy for review.
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