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Aug 09, 2019SolvayGirl rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
NO SPOILERS AHEAD: I enjoyed the natural history writing more than the story itself, but I don't tend to be a fan of popular fiction in general. The author and their editor did an incredible job of crafting both a mystery and a character study of a small town in coastal North Carolina with all of its warts and beauty. The story arcs were perfect, the timeline flashbacks were nicely done and didn't confuse or distract, but the total package still, for me, didn't quite work. There were plot holes that never quite got filled—even with the big reveal at the end, maybe especially with the big reveal at the end. I found the main plot vehicle to be so implausible that it kept distracting me from the story. I liked the protagonist, was interested in her and how she coped with everything that came her way but must admit, I never really connected with her. Perhaps the author did too good a job creating a character that had walled herself off from people. So, read this book so you can talk about it with others who have read it. Like The Goldfinch, Game of Thrones, and other über-popular pieces of fiction, it is part of our cultural canon now. Once you do, comment here. I'd like to know what others think.