Publisher: William Morrow
Published: November 2, 2021
Source: Netgalley via Publisher
Summary:
The USA Today bestselling and Edgar Award–winning author of Never Look Back and If I Die Tonight plumbs the dark side of justice and the depths of diabolical revenge in this propulsive novel of psychological suspense that melds the driving narrative of Then She Was Gone with the breathtaking twists of The Chain and the violent fury of Kill Bill.
Just how far will a grieving mother go to right a tragic wrong?
Camille Gardner is a grieving—and angry—mother who, five years after her daughter’s death, is still obsessed with the privileged young man she believes to be responsible.
When her rash actions attract the attention of a secret group of women—the collective—Camille is drawn into a dark web where these mothers share their wildly different stories of loss as well as their desire for justice in a world where privilege denies accountability and perpetrators emerge unscathed. Fueled by mutual rage, these women orchestrate their own brand of justice through precise, anonymous, complexly plotted and perfectly executed revenge killings, with individual members completing a specific and integral task in each plan.
As Camille struggles to comprehend whether this is a role-playing exercise or terrifying reality, she must decide if these women are truly avenging angels or monsters. Becoming more deeply enmeshed in the group, Camille learns truths about the collective—and about herself—that she may not be able to survive.
My thoughts:
I have been a fan of Alison Gaylin’s books for quite some time and so of course I requested this book as soon as I heard of this one. And when I saw it being compared to both The Chain and Kill Bill, I knew it would be right up my alley – and I have to say, both comparisons are quite apt!
I love nothing more than a good revenge story and just like The Chain, which I absolutely loved, this one is so addicting and intense. It keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next, driven by the collective grief of losing a child. Just like when I read The Chain, I will state here that I am not a parent, so while I do not come into the book with that connection, I do have nieces and nephews and would be devastated should the unthinkable happen to them.
This is such a unique, creative concept on the typical revenge plot which is really what makes it stand out. I loved how the tension slowly rises throughout. The characters we meet, the women in the Collective, are all so complex and it makes for some interesting dynamics. I didn’t expect to feel the range of emotions that I did throughout this book – especially towards Camille.
This book is twisty, dark and so very clever, and I loved that it went in directions I never saw coming. It is definitely a binge-worthy type of read, the type that just consumes you until you read that last page. I highly recommend picking this one up!
