Rating: 4 out of 5.

This is a very good mystery/thriller that is hard to put down. Wyatt lives in the small town of Wolf Ridge, Vermont and believes in the urban legend that every November the people of her town are overwhelmed by a hunger for violence. Too many people die in her small town die in that month, including her mother, who was brutally murdered last November.

This year Wyatt believes that the hunger has spread to her best friend Cash. She and Cash have a very toxic relationship. Wyatt desperately yearns for Cash and gobbles every morsel of affection he tosses her way, no matter how many times he hurts her. When their relationship is strained, Wyatt finds herself attracted to Cash’s nemesis, Porter, when they are assigned as partners for an English class project. Unused to freely being shown affection and kindness, Wyatt begins to learn hard truths about herself and her relationship with Cash. Out of the grip of Cash’s control, Wyatt begins to uncover secrets about herself and those she trusts most.

This was a gripping story that is a quick read. It touches on serious topics of mentally abusive relationships and control, and the author does a great job of putting the reader in the mind of Wyatt while she’s in the throes of her infatuation with Cash, and then as she slowly pulls away and realizes that their relationship is unhealthy. The mystery portion of the book is pretty predictable, but I enjoyed reading how the author got there.

I really enjoyed this book – although it feels weird saying I “enjoyed” reading such a messed up book, but you get it. I haven’t read anything by this author before, but I will definitely check out future books.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire. All opinions are my own.