Ten years ago Nicolette Farrel left her small town of Cooley Ridge after Corinne, her best friend, disappeared without a trace. In Philadelphia she has a successful existence where she lives with her fiancé. She has to return to her hometown to care for her ailing father and sell the family home. Soon she is caught up in a drama as her neighbor Annaleise disappears. She decides to search for the truth and secrets come to light about her family, her friends and what happened 10 years ago.
It is a fast-paced, well-written, addictive, psychological thriller with many unexpected twists and turns and an unexpected ending. The highlight is the carefully crafted profile of each of the main characters. Also original is the way he tells the past: in reverse time, he starts with the 15th day, then the 14th and so on until he reaches day 1. Everyone has a dark shadow, there are lies in their lives and the wickedness of the characters, the psychological cruelty to which they can reach, is highlighted in a special way. The setting is sordid and disturbing. It leaves the reader with an aftertaste of pessimism and despair. None of them seeks redemption.