Published: September 13, 2021

Bleau Press

I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Lee Chappel enjoys writing suspense and psychological mysteries but still can’t handle the surprises in scary children’s cartoons.

“We can look so different when you change the light.”

Kara is returning to her small hometown to host her late father’s celebration of life. She thinks she is prepared for the trip, but when past trauma flares and she finds herself struggling, she is thankful for her lifelong best friend, Brent, who is always willing to drop everything to be at her side. Returning home, Kara realizes there is a new face, a female detective at that, who takes an interest in what happened that night. Silence can be deafening.

This is a heavy one. But it is so delicately presented and so powerfully written. The uses of light and dark, sound, and the positive references for therapy make this such a brilliant read.

The characters were so well curated. Kara is such a beautiful character. She has deep, invisible scars and emotional trauma that everyone knows about but refuses to accept.

Brent is every bit the lifelong best friend you would expect. He is always willing to have Kara’s back, always ready to stay up all night watching cheesy movies, always there.

Cody is a well-intentioned acquaintance. He is a genuinely nice guy who just wants to help. He feels protective over Kara in ways he can’t quite explain, but he also knows he has to operate on her timeline.

Sam. Oh, Sam. She was a breath of fresh air. Everything about her character was perfect. She is intelligent, capable, quick-witted, and an absolute lioness.

Redemption comes in many forms, and I love how that was explored throughout this novel. The fact that trauma manifests differently in each person, and that was represented, was terrific.

There was a lot of factual information woven throughout this fictional story. And I love the fact that Sam, the badass detective, was relentless in her pursuit for the truth.

This was such an unexpected read. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but I am glad I accepted this novel. Beautifully written, powerfully delivered, and emotionally captivating, sometimes happiness finds you when you least expect it.