Published by Poisoned Pen Press
Publication Date: 28th November 2023
Book Description:
Two women. An office filled with secrets. One terrible crime that can't be taken back.
Dawn Schiff is strange.
At least, everyone thinks so at Vixed, the nutritional supplement company where Dawn works as an accountant. She never says the right thing. She has no friends. And she is always at her desk at precisely 8:45 a.m.
So when Dawn doesn't show up to the office one morning, her coworker Natalie Farrell―beautiful, popular, top sales rep five years running―is surprised. Then she receives an unsettling, anonymous phone call that changes everything...
It turns out Dawn wasn't just an awkward outsider―she was being targeted by someone close. And now Natalie is irrevocably tied to Dawn as she finds herself caught in a twisted game of cat and mouse that leaves her wondering: who's the real victim?
But one thing is incredibly clear: somebody hated Dawn Schiff.
My Thoughts:
I have been sucked into the crazy world of Freida McFadden! I'm not usually a jump on the bandwagon type of person, but Freida's writing is just so easy to read, flowing, and guaranteed to blindside you with her plot twists.
This time the reader is introduced to the offices of Vixed, a dietary supplement sales company where Natalie is the top dog sales person. Glamorous and successful, and a generally nice person, newbie member of staff, accountant Dawn feels drawn to Natalie and makes efforts to become friends - especially as she occupies the cubicle next door in the office. Unfortunately for Dawn, most people (not just at her workplace, but going all the way back to her childhood) think she's a little odd. She has an obsession with turtles, and loves to share her encyclopaedic knowledge of them with anyone who will listen. Sadly for her very few people are interested, and this leads to some snarky comments behind her back.
But just because she's a quirky character, doesn't mean she is prepared to take the sneers and snippy comments lying down. It soon becomes obvious that Dawn has hidden strengths. Without giving too much of the plot away, Dawn doesn't show up for work one morning and a concerned Natalie goes to her home to check she's ok. Things take the strangest turn from here, and Natalie finds herself very much under the scrutiny of the local police department.
I've seen a lot of comments on social media where people think they've sussed the whole plot within a couple of chapters. No. No - you really haven't. Freida McFadden's trademark is crazy plot twists, yet despite how crazy they are, they work so well! She will have you second, third and fourth guessing yourself as you progress through the book - and even then you will end up on the wrong track about something or someone. There aren't a huge number of characters in this book, but every single one plays their part to perfection.
I loved Dawn's weirdness and how this fitted into the storyline. The big reveal at the end I felt was quite clever. As always I am not going to give any spoilers, but if anyone who has read the book wants to discuss the various plotlines please drop me a message. I'd love to compare notes!
About the Author:
#1 New York Times, Amazon Charts, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Sunday Times, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author Freida McFadden is a practicing physician specializing in brain injury who has penned multiple bestselling psychological thrillers and medical humor novels. Freida’s work has been selected as one of Amazon Editors’ best books of the year, she is the winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for best paperback, and she is a Goodreads Choice Award winner. Her novels have been translated into 40 languages.
Freida lives with her family and black cat in a centuries-old three-story home overlooking the ocean, with staircases that creak and moan with each step, and nobody could hear you if you scream. Unless you scream really loudly, maybe.
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