Aardvark Book Club Fan Club (Not Official) discussion

In this riveting thriller from a new master of suspense, a young dancer’s homecoming is marred by a grisly discovery—and the realization that nothing in her past may be quite what she believed.

When Esmé Foster left the Boston suburbs to become a professional ballerina, the future shimmered with promise. Eleven years later, her career has been derailed by an injury, and Esme knows it’s time to come back to Graybridge to help her brother care for their ailing father. But her return coincides with an unthinkable crime. Kara Cunningham, one of Esme’s high school friends, is found dead in the woods behind the Fosters’ house.

Esmé is shocked and grieving, but also uneasy. In her dreams, she still sees the man who showed up at the scene of the car accident that killed her mother—and told Esmé he was going to kill her too. Family and friends insisted the figure was a product of Esmé’s imagination, that she was concussed after the crash. But she and Kara looked alike, sharing the same petite build, the same hair color. Could Kara’s murder have been a case of mistaken identity?

Detective Rita Myers is familiar with close-knit communities like Graybridge, where, beneath the friendliness, there are whispers and secrets. The town has seen other tragedies too, including the long-ago drowning of a young girl in a pond, deep in the woods. Even within the once-close circle of friends that included Kara and Esmé, Rita discerns a ripple of mistrust.

Day by day, Esmé discovers more about the place she left behind—and the friends and family she thought she knew. Soon, shining a light into the darkness to learn what really happened the night Kara died is the only way she can bring the nightmare to an end . . .

I was surprised because I didn't realize this was book 2 in a series but I've already read book 1 AND it was previously an Aardvark pick!

Series: Detective Rita Myers #2
Book 1:

15 chapters

(view spoiler)[ ooooh so many good suspects
although you have to wonder, could it have been Irene? Would she have been mad about something she did?

I think Byron is the obvious suspect and so is the creepy neighbor.
I definitely think the teacher is a good suspect too, especially since he was supposed to meet her!

I'm not sure, yet, who it is.

and who on earth was choking Esme when she was a little girl? what was that about? (hide spoiler)]

30 chapters

(view spoiler)[ hmmm. I don't feel like we learned a lot more in this set of chapters.

I'm more weary of Irene, Jack and the friend (is it Christy? Chrissy?)
I wonder what they are all hiding? (hide spoiler)]

45 chapters

(view spoiler)[ I don't feel like Ray dealing drugs was new information - Rita definitely already suspected that
I think his sister is an easy target too! I'm not sure she did it but she is giving off creepy vibes AND the coat was there. Could she have, maybe.
I'm still iffy on Irene
and Mr. York is giving a weird vibe. Could he have been having an affair with the mom?
Who would have drove them off the road, though? and tried to choke her to death? (hide spoiler)]

and I'm done

(view spoiler)[ a bit of a let down.
I feel like we got really swept up in Ray's family drama and cynthia's life after being let out of juveie.
we also got really wrapped up in her mom cheating and Irene being mad
it was also most weird that her friend brought up something else because it hadn't been on Esme's mind at all!

meh, I found the PI having killed everyone being a bit silly too. (hide spoiler)]