Maybe I've read too many of this type of thriller...
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The Blurb:
Finn and Layla are young, in love, and on vacation. They’re driving along the highway when Finn decides to stop at a service station to use the restroom. He hops out of the car, locks the doors behind him, and goes inside. When he returns Layla is gone—never to be seen again. That is the story Finn told to the police. But it is not the whole story. Ten years later Finn is engaged to Layla’s sister, Ellen. Their shared grief over what happened to Layla drew them close and now they intend to remain together. Still, there’s something about Ellen that Finn has never fully understood. His heart wants to believe that she is the one for him...even though a sixth sense tells him not to trust her. Then, not long before he and Ellen are to be married, Finn gets a phone call. Someone from his past has seen Layla—hiding in plain sight. There are other odd occurrences: Long-lost items from Layla’s past that keep turning up around Finn and Ellen’s house. Emails from strangers who seem to know too much. Secret messages, clues, warnings. If Layla is alive—and on Finn’s trail—what does she want? And how much does she know?
The Review
I've also read 'Behind Closed Doors' by the same author and have to say I much preferred it to this, Paris' most recent offering. I'm generally a lover of the 'person gone missing' thriller, but I'm afraid to say that this missed the mark for me. It was too obvious in 'the revealing' that said missing person might have returned and waaay too convenient (and cheesey..?!) that he was now engaged to the missing girls' sister.
The thing that annoyed me the most is that a lot of the things that Finn, our protagonist, does make little or no sense! I mean, if you thought your long lost fiance (or her kidnapper) had resurfaced and was contacting you, you would probably call the police, no? That was just the first in a catalogue of, "Huh? Who would do that?!" moments I had to contend with.
And most damning of all, the main reveal (which by the way I saw coming a mile off) made no sense. I don't want to give any spoilers but it will leave you clutching your head in agony asking 'How could he possibly not have realised...?!' I think it's been done before in other thrillers, but better than this I'm afraid.
I read a lot of this type of thriller, so perhaps I'm starting to get a bit jaded to them and finding that nothing in these plots really surprises me anymore. I really do think Paris is a good writer though; this is still an engaging and flowing read, despite all the annoyances I found with the plot itself. But if you had to read one of her books, I would recommend 'Behind Closed Doors' over this any day of the week.
Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for this preview copy in return for an honest review.
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