Best friends Emily and Kristen are on their annual international vacation in Chile when Kristen kills a backpacker in self-defense. This mimics an event from the previous year’s trip to Cambodia, where a similar violent encounter left a different man dead. Upon returning to Milwaukee, Emily struggles with trauma and growing suspicion as Kristen’s behavior becomes increasingly possessive and manipulative. As Emily attempts to build a normal life with a new boyfriend, she discovers evidence that suggests the deaths were not accidental, forcing her to confront her friend’s obsession and her own complicity in their shared crimes.
Fans of psychological thrillers read this for the tense examination of toxic female friendships and the psychological toll of shared secrets. It appeals to those interested in the dynamics of gaslighting and the blurred lines between loyalty and self-preservation. Readers finish the book with a dark perspective on how past traumas dictate future choices and an understanding of how codependency can escalate into violence. The story provides a detailed look at how guilt erodes a person’s sense of reality and safety within their closest relationships.
Practical, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2021
- Language
- EN
