When sales star Natalie’s fastidious and compulsive coworker fails to show up for work, she knows something is wrong. Her colleague Dawn is an annoying pest, socially awkward and obsessed with turtles. It’s also obvious Dawn envies Natalie and is bent on becoming her friend. But Natalie has little time, or interest, in Dawn.

Suddenly, strange occurrences happen around the office, including objects appearing on Natalie’s desk, and mysterious phone calls, not to mention the fastidious and ever-punctual Dawn missing an important meeting with her boss. And then there’s the message Natalie received from Dawn last evening—“I need to speak with you about a matter of great importance.” Natalie can’t shake the feeling something is seriously wrong. Maybe Dawn is hurt, missing, or worse.

When Natalie decides to swing by Dawn’s house for a well-check, she finds Dawn missing, the backdoor unlocked, and blood all over the living room rug. She calls the police and her boyfriend for support, setting off a chain of events that cost Natalie everything. 

The timeline and plot are not complicated, but that’s not a ding against this book.

Rather, it’s a compliment. The true story depth lies in the carefully curated characters by author Frieda McFadden. Natalie and Dawn, the two protagonists, artfully drive the story forward into the “what happened?” and “who did it?” mystery. Their backstories, deeply cloaked goals, frailties, and intense emotional arcs are well-constructed. To top it off, they’re gradually unveiled with impeccable timing throughout.

This is a great mystery with lots of plot twists and turns and culminating in a surprise ending. I read it in two sittings over one weekend because I couldn’t put it down. While it’s designed for entertainment, it’s also eye-opening. What I mean is no matter how much we strive to be good human beings, there’s a little Natalie or Dawn in each of us. You’ll see when you read it.

A well-written “who done it?” that will keep you thinking long after the story ends.

Source: Purchased

Image Courtesy of Poison Pen Sourcebooks, Inc.