My Rating: ★★★½☆ (3.5/5)
This book had a bit of a slow start for me. We’re introduced to the main character and surrounding cast fairly quickly, and the story begins to take shape early on—but it felt a little flat. The plot lacked emotional depth at first, and I struggled to feel truly pulled in. Even when two people are murdered on campus, I expected the tension and pace to increase, but it continued at the same measured tempo.
However, everything changed at the end of Part 1.
An unexpected character—someone I definitely didn’t suspect—gets arrested for the murders, and that’s when the book grabbed me. From that point on, I couldn’t put it down. I flew through Part 2, which added another twist that shifted the story’s direction and set up Part 3 perfectly. This is when the underlying psychological study begins to unfold and its deeper implications are revealed.
While I had a strong feeling about how things would ultimately end (and I was mostly right), Michele Fleming managed to squeeze in one final twist that genuinely caught me off guard. I’m honestly not sure whether I loved or hated that ending—but it definitely left me thinking.
If you enjoy slow-burn thrillers with layered twists and a touch of academic intrigue, this one might be worth your time. Just be patient—the payoff is in the latter half.
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