The well-known author Freida McFadden once again makes her mark on the crime fiction scene. On this occasion, she presents the very contemporary case of a highly qualified professional woman who cannot find the man of her dreams in a cosmopolitan city such as New York. Sidney Shaw and her friends—confirmed singles like herself—use a dating platform where one does not always find what one is looking for. This time, however, luck is on her side and, by chance, she meets the perfect bachelor: handsome, well-mannered, and a doctor. Everything seems to be going perfectly until the murder of one of Sidney’s friends enters the story.
The death follows the pattern of other murders. So what then? Sidney’s safety appears to be threatened, but no... she is well protected by this perfect man who is courting her. Yet she is being watched by someone who knows all her movements. She could be the next victim, as she fits the profile targeted by the serial killer...
While remaining a crime novel in which action and suspense take precedence over other literary qualities, the book offers opportunities for reflection. Have we forgotten how to find love—or even friendship—through ordinary human interaction and sociability? Do we need the digital world in order to exercise our capacity for empathy and love? And what about the pursuit of professional success at any cost? Why do we fail to recognize the importance of emotional deprivation during childhood and adolescence, and why do we so often overlook it?
All things considered, this is a novel to relax and unwind with, an engaging read that demands little effort while successfully holding the reader’s attention and encouraging them to keep turning the pages. Freida McFadden deserves credit for her ability to immerse us in a world of elegance and refinement, one that is nevertheless not free from the presence of evil and death.