"I’m always biased when it comes to rating any book by Gillian McAllister—I’m ready to give five stars before I even start reading! And once I finish, I feel validated because her work always turns out to be five-star worthy, mind-blowing as usual!

The same thing happened with this book, but two elements made me love it even more than her previous works. First, Camilla’s way of escaping into fiction resonates deeply with me. The portrayal of a bookish introvert's inner world and her reactions every time she opens a new book are so meticulously written that I wanted to scream, “Yes! I feel exactly the same way! I hear you!�

The second standout is the first third of the book—the bloody siege part—which may be one of the best examples of thriller writing I’ve read recently. The way unknown facts pile up, the escalating tempo, the building tension, the "what’s going to happen next" mystery—it’s all so nail-biting, heart-racing, and adrenaline-pumping that it left me sweating, screaming, and cursing. The first shocking twist is a punch to the face—entertaining and disturbing in equal measure.

As the story moves past the siege into the second act, I was left feeling impatient and restless. I kept thinking, "Come on, Luke can’t be bad! Even though he has a French name, he’s still a good guy! The sweet, extroverted, down-to-earth, Jaffa-cake-loving man who sent those clever texts can’t be a mastermind criminal! There has to be an explanation!"

The mystery continues to build, and McAllister keeps us in the dark for so long about what happened on the longest day, June 21st in Bormendsey. Why does literary agent Camilla find out that her husband left the house earlier than usual, on the worst day of all—her first day back at work after maternity leave—without even warning her? Why did he leave a cryptic note instead of his usual witty comments? Why isn’t he answering his phone? And why do the police insist that her husband has a gun and has taken three people hostage: two unknown men and a woman, who happens to be the wife of a cop? Has he been living a double life? What could have led to this? He couldn’t possibly kill anyone� could he?

And then—bang!—something irreversible happens.

After the siege, Camilla tries to move on with her life, still sending texts and messages to her husband's phone, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he’ll somehow read or listen to them.

The other perspective in the story comes from hostage negotiator Niall, whose life also changed on June 21st due to a misjudgment that cost him his career, his marriage, and his peace of mind. There are still dead bodies after the siege with identities that remain unknown—a baffling mystery. Niall can’t let it go until he uncovers the truth and seeks justice.

I’ll admit that the final third of the book was a little weaker than the earlier parts. Don’t get me wrong—pieces of the puzzle come together, and after many jaw-dropping twists, we do get answers, even if some of them are a little far-fetched. There are no plot holes, though. McAllister is a master at formulating complex timelines, weaving intricate details, and delivering twists you’d never anticipate. She did it perfectly in Wrong Place, Wrong Time (which is still my favorite of hers), and she does it here too, connecting dots you’d never think to consider, giving us surprising insights.

Overall, I loved this book with every fiber of my being. I have to say, though, the first third remains my favorite part. As a hopeless romantic, I rooted for Camilla and Luke, even though Luke turned out to be dangerous! The romantic thread running through the story made me connect with the characters even more. I also really enjoyed Niall’s chapters—his self-reflection, his determination to make up for his mistakes, and his obsession with cracking the bizarre case full of unknowns. He might be my favorite character—a sort of Cupid and justice seeker rolled into one, a workaholic who is likable despite his flaws.

This is now my second-favorite McAllister twisty, smart, and addictive thriller, easily a 5+ star read. My advice: go into this one blind, cancel your plans, and set aside time to immerse yourself in this rollercoaster of a book. You won’t regret it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing this digital review copy of an unputdownable thriller in exchange for my honest thoughts, which I truly appreciate. And a huge thank you to Ms. McAllister for taking me on yet another smart, thrilling, and twisty ride!




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Summer Clark started reading The Grace Year