Rose Wilks' life is shattered when her new-born baby Joel is admitted to intensive care. Emma Hatcher has all that Rose lacks. Beauty. A loving husband. A healthy son. Until tragedy strikes and Rose is the only suspect. Now, after nearly five years behind bars, Rose is just weeks away from freedom. Her probation officer Cate must decide whether Rose is remorseful for Luke's death, or whether she remains a threat to society. As Cate is drawn in, she doubts her own judgement. Where is the line between love and obsession, can justice be served and, if so...by what means?

This twisty psychological story is full of loss, betrayal & the heartbreak that can come with loving the wrong person. While I can't say I liked any of the characters it no way affected my enjoyment of the tale.

I was surprised to learn that this is the first in the "Cate Austin" series. Initially I didn't feel that she'd be a strong enough character to base a series on, maybe because she wasn't the main focus of the story. However, on reflection I think that this quite uneven balance between Rose's story & Cate's meant the reader was able to see Rose in different lights....& be kept guessing!

While I couldn't help feeling sorry for Rose during her early years I couldn't say I was sympathetic to the events that occurred to her later in life. Yes, she had suffered some tragic events but I just didn't trust her! Her "Black Book" entries (where she recounted her version of events & shared her feelings) would have you pitying her as she seemed ever doomed to be a victim. Yet the "now" story (in which Cate looked at the possibilty of Rose getting parole) showed a different side to Rose's character, one who struck me as sly & calculating, a tough-cookie indeed & very unlike the way she portrayed herself. So who was the real Rose?..& more to the point was she guilty of the crime of which she was accused of? Well my lips are sealed, except to say the ending did not go the way I expected. Kudos to the author - I do like to be caught out 😀

Overall it's a really good read that will have you changing your feelings & opinion of Rose every few pages. It's a gripping read - trust me, you won't want to put it down 'til you know the truth behind baby Luke's death...

Enjoy!

Released as part of the 2018 NOVEMBER "THE" Challenge (#37)

Thank you for the wishlist book, Plum!

Well, this was a very strange, dark, disturbing read. I didn't like any of the characters, but I persevered with the story as I wanted to find out the truth about Luke's death. Cate is not a particularly compelling character, so I shan't read any more in this series.

Left on bench.