2.5 stars

I'm at a loss with this book. Did it keep my interest? Yes. Did it disturb me? Yes. Did it have characters that stood out? Those are usually reasons that I like a book. However, this one didn't sit well with me. As a woman, the violence was reminiscent of a battered wife, and that I didn't like. So often in these stories, it is romanticized. However, there was nothing romantic about this. The constant behavior followed by a sorry followed by a repeat is unsettling. Especially, as I am drawn to dark romance. Maybe that is what didn't sit well with me. The fact that this didn't feel like fiction and instead felt as if it could have been an episode of Dateline. Hence my dilemma. I am intrigued as to the mystery but am not sure I can handle the abuse to get those answers. The only saving grace is the hat the author isn't explicit in the details either sexually or the gore.

###

