Rating: 3 out of 5.

This is a contemporary mystery/thriller with paranormal aspects. I was creeped out by the paranormal aspects of the book, but I’m a big chicken. I think readers that aren’t a big chicken like me will enjoy it. A great deal of the book is devoted to the private life of the main character and the family dynamics with her uncles and brother, as well as her estranged husband. I felt the family issues were distracting and took me out of the mystery elements of the book. A closer look at the book could tighten this part of the story up and make the transitions less jarring.

My biggest issue with the book was its pacing. It was far too slow for me and I felt my mind drifting, requiring me to really concentrate to follow the story. One reason for this was the multitude of small plot lines that I felt were unnecessary to the book. Again, another look by the editor could tighten this up and quicken the pace, thereby creating a better reading experience. Of course, readers that enjoy a slow burn, rather than a fast pace, will probably enjoy this book more than I did.

Here is the Goodreads blurb about the book:

After reckless behavior costs NYPD detective Leigh O’Donnell her job and her marriage, three suspicious drownings in her hometown cause her to return to Copper Falls, Ohio in the hopes that solving a triple homicide just might get her life back on course. Leigh had stayed away from Copper Falls for decades, even though her trio of loving uncles and her brother still call it home. Because Copper Falls may seem idyllic, but something rotten lies at its core.

Headstrong and intuitive, Leigh isn’t afraid to face a killer. But she will have to do more than that to learn the truth about Copper Falls; she must unravel a complicated web of insidious secrets going back generations and truly confront what the town keeps hidden—as well as what she is hiding from herself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons. All opinions are my own.