4 stars
Wasn’t sure what to expect with this one, but I was pleasantly surprised. This is the first I’ve read of Armstrong’s work.
Nicola is grieving over the loss of her husband, Anton. Due to her cystic fibrosis, she always expected to die first. In an effort for closure, Nicola dabbles in the world of mediums and seances to try to contact Anton’s spirit with no luck. She vows to make one last real attempt before calling it quits for good. But she could never have guessed what she would discover and the darkness seeping into her life.
The story definitely hooks you. It’s a bit slow in the beginning, but lays some nice groundwork. About halfway through I was really drawn in, trying to figure out what was happening. There is a lot going on from grief, missing persons, murder, seances, possible possessions, and past secrets.
The last chunk of the book is absolutely wild and expected, but overall I enjoyed it.
I really liked the family dynamics in this. I adored Libby’s character and wish we got to see her more. But the connections between Nic, Keith, Libby and Jin were really cool.
Parts of it dragged a bit and the narration gets repetitive, but it definitely kept me guessing. I did not see that ending coming.
Overall, a well-written ghost story that blends love, revenge, suspense, and grief. This one will keep you on your toes and have you guessing until the very end.