I had a hard time with this book right from the beginning. An aspiring investigative journalist just happens to move in next door to an acclaimed journalist that she looks up to? That mentor figure just happens to be hiring for a new job that's perfect for someone who sees her as a mentor figure? Uh huh. Also, that acclaimed journalist's project (or at least a major side project) seems to be... spying on her neighbors and, because she's bitter and resentful, trying to ruin their idyllic lives?

One of the Amazon reviews of this book said, "This is not a thriller, it's women's fiction with a murder plot" and I definitely agree... there are very few thrills in this book and it seems to be more about the relationship between the two journalists than it is about what they're investigating, or with any kind of plot tension or conflict. Other reviewers shared similar sentiments such as, "Like Desperate Housewives, only worse." This book also contains one of my biggest pet peeves... which is lack of research or believability. I'm not sure the author ever did any proper research into how police procedure works, because the cops stumble around like morons needing the neighborhood's junior detectives to explain everything to them.

It also takes place in Sacramento (my hometown) which... is not a plus in my book.

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Created Jan 18, 2025 at 7:43pm • Submit your own review...