You knew a teenager like Charlie Crabtree. A dark imagination, a sinister smile--always on the outside of the group. Some part of you suspected he might be capable of doing something awful. Twenty-five years ago, Crabtree did just that, committing a murder so shocking that it’s attracted that strange kind of infamy that only exists on the darkest corners of the internet--and inspired more than one copycat. Paul Adams remembers the case all too well: Crabtree--and his victim--were Paul’s friends. Paul has slowly put his life back together. But now his mother, old and senile, has taken a turn for the worse. Though every inch of him resists, it is time to come home. It's not long before things start to go wrong. Reading the news, Paul learns another copycat has struck. His mother is distressed, insistent that there's something in the house. And someone is following him. Which reminds him of the most unsettling thing about that awful day twenty-five years ago. It wasn't just the murder. It was the fact that afterward, Charlie Crabtree was never seen again...
No posts yet
Kick off the convo with a theory, question, musing, or update
Your rating:
Overall, holy crap. This thriller was so well done. The story focuses on Paul, who as a teen was tangentially involved in a murder in town. Twenty five years later, he’s back in town to care for his ailing mother, and soon realizes that despite his efforts to forget what happened, the events of yesteryear are still causing ripples. His story is intertwined with flashbacks, and the POV of a detective named Amanda who is investigating a copycat killing in a nearby town. The story was so well written. I thought I understood what was happening, and suddenly my perception of the events was totally upended. I really liked how the author introduced an event in present time, then revealed more with a flashback, as this really tied the timelines together. As details were revealed, I noticed some intentional vagueness in the writing. As I read, I understood one thing to be true based on what was written. But realized later on when something else was revealed to have happened, that the author was very intentional about the words used. The reader is led in one direction only to be spun around later on. I also loved the theme of motherly love. The main character Paul had a lot of trauma and emotional pain that made him leave town. His mother never blamed him for this and instead held enough love in her heart for the both of them. This story was very interesting and surprisingly heartfelt. I loved the note from the author at the end that described his inspiration. A truly unique premise that will stick with me.
0 0 0