I found that this story had some strengths in depicting the tensions which so often exist in the relationships between the “haves and have-nots” in communities which rely on the patronage of wealthy holidaymakers. However, I thought that there was far too much repetition in Avery’s recollections of the night of the 2017 party and found my mind wandering during many of these sections of the book. I thought that the tension which could have been generated – by storyline of a series of break-ins, power-cuts and various strange happenings at the rental properties, all of which contributed to Avery feeling she was under constant surveillance – was never quite achieved. I think that this was partly due to the frequent switches between past and present, but I think it was also because I found it difficult to care sufficiently about any of the characters who, with the exception of Connor (a local friend), seemed rather stereotypical and lacking in any real depth. Some of the twists and turns of the plotting were intriguing and appealing but these were offset by others which required considerably more suspension of disbelief than I found possible to achieve!
Although I had already guessed the denouement sometime before the end of the story, I do think that the way in which this was eventually revealed was well executed, but in some ways this only added to my frustration that the story had the potential to be so much more engaging and satisfying than I ultimately found it. On a more positive note, as I know the coastal areas of Maine well I very much enjoyed how the author’s evocative descriptions transported me back to a place which holds memories of happy holidays – to a large extent these were what encouraged me to carry on reading!
Although I had already guessed the denouement sometime before the end of the story, I do think that the way in which this was eventually revealed was well executed, but in some ways this only added to my frustration that the story had the potential to be so much more engaging and satisfying than I ultimately found it. On a more positive note, as I know the coastal areas of Maine well I very much enjoyed how the author’s evocative descriptions transported me back to a place which holds memories of happy holidays – to a large extent these were what encouraged me to carry on reading!