finished reading

While this book felt a bit overlong, it was an impressive start to a new series. The novel’s greatest strength lies in its characters; even the secondary figures are so well-developed they feel like three-dimensional people. The mystery revolves around the gritty, disturbing disappearances of teenage girls across dual timelines—one in the present and another twelve years ago. I especially appreciated that it functions as both a police procedural and a deep dive into the psychology behind the crimes.

From the publisher:

Welcome to North Falls—a small town where everyone knows everyone. Or so they think.

Until the night of the fireworks. When two teenage girls vanish, and the town ignites.

For Officer Emmy Clifton, it’s personal. She turned away when her best friend's daughter needed help—and now she must bring her home.

But as Emmy combs through the puzzle the girls left behind, she realizes she never really knew them. Nobody did.

Every teenage girl has secrets. But who would kill for them? And what else is the town hiding?