Devi Nair
📱📖 Read on Kindle 📃 No. of pages: 320 (approx., based on ARC) ⏱ Duration: 7 hours (ARC provided by publisher – pub date Dec 09 2025) 🏷️Publisher name: Simon & Schuster Canada | Gallery/Scout Press
I was hooked from page one. I tore through this book like it was a tray of killer cupcakes: fast, addictive, a little weird, and way too fun. The dual timeline format (past and present) created this eerie, intertwined rhythm that made each reveal hit perfectly. Every cryptic present-day text yanked me into a flashback that made the stakes feel real. Kirby’s voice? Relatable chaos. Esme’s unhinged energy? Chef’s kiss. The friend-group banter had me cackling while clutching my Kindle, and the Crowhurst Killer lore dripped ’90s slasher nostalgia without feeling gimmicky.
Character development is top-notch. I felt with Kirby, understood her frustrations, and loved the quirks of every supporting character. The dual-timeline structure gave the narrative a captivating rhythm that made it hard to put down. The pacing was chef’s kiss, building tension scene by scene. Chilton has that rare knack for balancing dark humor and genuine dread, and the emotional depth snuck up when least expected. By 80% of the book, I was ready to award it five stars.
But then… the ending. The reveal of the Crowhurst killer and the motive behind the murders felt utterly ridiculous, almost as if the story cheated me after building such meticulous suspense. After 80% of such thrilling, smart plotting, the final 20% completely undercut the momentum. The climax lacked the brilliance of the rest of the book, and the resolution didn’t match the tension that had me hooked. It was frustrating, disappointing, and, honestly, felt like a wasted opportunity.
Would I Recommend it? This book had me fully hooked until the last few chapters veered into “wait, what?” territory. The setup was flawless, the execution near-perfect, but the finale felt like it tripped at the finish line. That said, it’s clever, character-rich, and worth reading for the first 80% alone.
Whose Motive Made You Facepalm? Drop your wildest “the killer did WHAT?” letdown in the comments. Let’s roast (or redeem) that final twist together!
📱📖 Read on Kindle 📃 No. of pages: 320 (approx., based on ARC) ⏱ Duration: 7 hours (ARC provided by publisher – pub date Dec 09 2025) 🏷️Publisher name: Simon & Schuster Canada | Gallery/Scout Press
I was hooked from page one. I tore through this book like it was a tray of killer cupcakes: fast, addictive, a little weird, and way too fun. The dual timeline format (past and present) created this eerie, intertwined rhythm that made each reveal hit perfectly. Every cryptic present-day text yanked me into a flashback that made the stakes feel real. Kirby’s voice? Relatable chaos. Esme’s unhinged energy? Chef’s kiss. The friend-group banter had me cackling while clutching my Kindle, and the Crowhurst Killer lore dripped ’90s slasher nostalgia without feeling gimmicky.
Character development is top-notch. I felt with Kirby, understood her frustrations, and loved the quirks of every supporting character. The dual-timeline structure gave the narrative a captivating rhythm that made it hard to put down. The pacing was chef’s kiss, building tension scene by scene. Chilton has that rare knack for balancing dark humor and genuine dread, and the emotional depth snuck up when least expected. By 80% of the book, I was ready to award it five stars.
But then… the ending. The reveal of the Crowhurst killer and the motive behind the murders felt utterly ridiculous, almost as if the story cheated me after building such meticulous suspense. After 80% of such thrilling, smart plotting, the final 20% completely undercut the momentum. The climax lacked the brilliance of the rest of the book, and the resolution didn’t match the tension that had me hooked. It was frustrating, disappointing, and, honestly, felt like a wasted opportunity.
Would I Recommend it? This book had me fully hooked until the last few chapters veered into “wait, what?” territory. The setup was flawless, the execution near-perfect, but the finale felt like it tripped at the finish line. That said, it’s clever, character-rich, and worth reading for the first 80% alone.
Whose Motive Made You Facepalm? Drop your wildest “the killer did WHAT?” letdown in the comments. Let’s roast (or redeem) that final twist together!