I'm glad I read the reviews that called this out for not being a twisty thriller and placed this firmly in the exploration of grief category. It really is a decent into obsession and unhealthy coping mechanisms, and it's done very well. We're stuck in the main character's head and her motivations for truly unhinged things somehow make sense. It's done well, but in the end it was not my favorite. I like the mystery that's teased throughout to wrap up in the end but it wasn't. ( )

The role of the internet in crime and unsolved crimes is a grubby one where, as usual, not everyone is what or who they seem. When Theo's older sister Angie disappears and then ten years later her father kills himself, reddit is alive with chat and comments.

It turns out that her father, who is a cocaine addict, has been holed up in his office in online groups trying to find the killer of Angie and going down some dark rabbit holes. When Theo offers to clean out his office, she too ends up reading the online chats which are in the main unpleasant, sexually aggressive and unwanted, and not at all helpful with everyone saying who they think dunnit.

In an irony, the answers that Theo, or Teddy, is looking for don't come via the internet. They come via people, in particular Mickey who she met online through her father's contacts but who looks very much like a pale, washed out version of her sister. As people get close to Teddy, she pushes them away - she and Mickey both push away from each other, but she also pushes away from Bill, her boyfriend and her behaviour and drinking deteriorate. Her memories and the conspiracy theories become muddled in her mind and it is a strong image of what grief can drive us to do.

Annonymity is a key factor in the online chats represented in the book, where people feel that they can say anything they want. To come out of it, you just click off the page but the person the bile was directed at can't unsee it. So often we are surprised at who is behind these annonymous accounts and the number of people looking in. Voyeurism is definitely a theme of the book.

The writing is pacy and the chapters are short, so this is a book to romp through. ( )

The narrative revolves around Teddy's pursuit of the truth behind her sister Angie's mysterious disappearance a decade ago. The plot takes an unexpected turn when Teddy discovers her father's deep involvement in a Reddit community dedicated to Angie's case.

Teddy immerses herself in the online community, her preoccupation with her sister's disappearance intensifies, leading to erratic behavior.
Kate Brody weaves a tale of obsession and self-destruction, exploring the impact of family tragedies on individuals.

There was a lot of tension throughout the story. It never felt lull, which speaks to the author's adept storytelling. However, it didn’t seem like a thriller book. It was more like the aftermath of family tragedies and how it affected the characters. Kate Brody does show the complexities of grief, obsession, and the ways in which people cope with loss. Pretty interesting read. ( )

Teddy has always been somewhat obsessed with the disappearance of her older sister, Angie, ten years ago. When her father commits suicide she discovers his obsession with the disappearance led him to active involvement with a Reddit community centered around Angie. When Teddy enters the community and starts communicating with others, it only intensifies her preoccupation leading to increasingly self destructive behavior.

The publisher’s synopsis of this book was somewhat misleading and I was a bit disappointed that it didn’t really deliver what was foreshadowed. That said, it was a character study of grief and depression and the personal and familial dissolution it can cause.

Although this debut novel was slow to develop, it was a fast read. I wouldn’t characterize this as a mystery but perhaps more of narrative fiction or psychological thriller.

Thanks to #netgalley and #sohopress for the ARC. ( )