When assigning stars to reviews, I am loathe to give five out of five. Generally, my highest rating is 4.5, because I know that there are actual five-star books out there and I’ll know them when I read them. This book is a five-star, and I didn’t even pause to think about it.

I don’t want to say anything about the story because it’s so well-written and amazingly tight that any plot or character discussion could easily spoil the experience. Let’s just say that it was emotionally surprising and leave it at that.

Additionally, I’d add that I believe it’s the only “horror/thriller” fiction I’ve ever read that has a multi-page bibliography. Catriona Ward did her research, and she has a new fan in me. A beautifully written, superb piece of fiction.