The first third of the story was a bit tedious. I know that most police procedurals are quite unrealistic in the speed that things get done, so full marks for portraying an investigation closer to life. From the police side, very little happens over a year.

The story starts with a hit and run accident in Bristol, in which a young boy is killed. There's very little for the police to go on but they throw all they've got into the investigation. No one can fathom the kind of person who would flee the scene without helping.

In the meantime, Jenna has fled to a remote cottage in Wales, where somehow she starts a successful business selling photos of words she writes in the sand. It's bit of a pet peeve how people in books effortlessly manage to make a living doing something fun that realistically wouldn't pay well, unless you got famous for it. In her defense, her savings are mentioned on a few occasions but it also is made to seem like she's doing OK.

So at the point I was thinking about quitting and going to book group with my tail between my legs, things start to get interesting. Actually when Jenna's narration starts, I assumed she was what is revealed at this point anyway. So I did feel a bit confused. It goes to so much effort trying to lead the reader astray that it didn't quite work.

Yet I was pulled in a lot more by this point and I do think the aspect around domestic abuse was done well. We see the viewpoint of the abuser instead of the abused, how they try to justify things. The slow build up from things that could be overlooked to the unforgivable.

Things got a bit ridiculous at the end on a couple of counts. I didn't think the police personal lives side was necessary however I get the feeling it could be setting up for a series with the same characters. I'm not sure I liked them enough to want to read more about them though.