Twisty Tale Packs A Lot Of Action Into Its Short-Ish Package. This is one of those sub-300 page books that is going to feel like it *has* to be longer than it is... in all the best ways. For all that happens here, you're going to be thinking this book is probably 100 or more pages longer than it actually is... and you're not even going to notice until you get to the end, look down, and question your sense of reality when you see the actual page number. And speaking of questioning reality, this is absolutely one of those ultra twisty psychological thrillers where both the characters - and you, the reader - will be questioning all that you know (possibly even in your own "real" life) by the end. I've read several of Mercer's books now, and this is absolutely both a solid look at her style (for new readers) and quite easily among the best she's done to date (for readers who have been around a while and already get excited when they see her name on a book). Either newbie or established fan, this one is one that will likely gain her far more fans than it loses. (Let's face it, *no* book is for everyone, and there *will* eventually be - wrong - reviews that claim this book is lacking in some aspect. Some people are idiots, and you just have to move on. ;) (And yes, I fully acknowledge that some consider *me* to be an idiot, but I also doubt those people are reading this review. :D) ) There will be at least some who don't want to read it for the simple reason of its basic premise, which largely hinges on mothers' fears, even years after the baby is born, which is respectable. As a childfree married dude, I *fully* get this, particularly given the book's release date between UK Mother's Day and US Mother's Day. For these types, I think the book is strong enough and doesn't really dive into too many problematic issues within the childfree community that I think many of us can still enjoy this book as much as I have, but again, from this angle (and similar), I absolutely get deciding that this book maybe isn't for you. Just please, I beg you - you've now been warned about this in this very review, so PLEASE don't DNF / 1* this book because of these issues. Just skip it entirely. You. Have. Been. Warned. :) Overall truly an excellent tale superbly told, and great for when you maybe don't have as much time as you'd LIKE to read, but still don't want to read a sub-200 page book either (even though there are many at that length that are also awesome, fwiw). Very much recommended.