There is a reason that S.E. Lynes is my absolute go to author - I just LOVE the way she draws the totally human characters who inhabit her books, she manages to make you understand and has you empathising with even the most unlovable ones and utterly bereft and rooting for the goodies. This is a devastating, heart stopping, thrilling book which will absolutely resonate with any parent. Ava's reaction from the minute that Abi disappeared was brilliantly portrayed - the panic, the desperation, driving herself mad with her brain rerunning events over and over in a loop, the self doubt - did actually she fasten the buckle? how can she not have locked the door? Then there was the fall out the heartbreak, the relationships sent into a spiral, the deceit! but who is deceiving who? A year after the tragic event at the long awaited Housewarming party of the house next door Ava discovers just how wrong she was about the people she held close - So many people putting themselves or the well being of their own family first and totally ignoring the needs of the others. I can't recommend this book highly enough - do yourself a favour buy this book and make sure you can hide away from everything to read it as you won't be able to put it down. (then read her back catalogue - you're welcome :) )

S.E. Lynes is rapidly becoming one of my favourite authors. I was intrigued by the very simple premise of the plot, but wasn't sure it could be sustained for the entire book. In truth I did find it quite slow to begin with and more than a little repetitive. I'm pleased to say that I did guess who was responsible for Abi's disappearance very early on - as I'm sure others will - just not how or, much more importantly, why. The structure works well with flashbacks to the original action after about a year. We see how the main characters have coped/progressed/floundered. I felt as if I knew Ava and Matt pretty well as a result. However, I did find some of the supporting characters a bit two-dimensional. I'd loved to have explored the Lovegoods much more. That said, the climax of the book is worth waiting for, with a sort of double twist that makes you look forward to reading the next story