What do you think?
Rate this book
The Water Tower
Josie Ashbury was a successful Hollywood actress with a booming career-until an on-set breakdown sends her back to her small Ohio hometown to recover. Taking a job teaching at her old high school, Josie is beginning to put the pieces of her life back together when one of her students dies under suspicious circumstances. The police close the case quickly, without any real answers. Josie is determined to find the truth behind the girl's death. At the same time, Josie is battling demons of her own. As she faces debilitating insomnia that leaves her with gaps in her memory, she dives into the tangled secrets surrounding the investigation. When she finally unravels the web, she discovers that the truth lies much closer to home than she could have ever imagined.
262 pages, Paperback
Published June 20, 2023
About the author
Amy Young
1 book140 followersAmy Young is an author, comedian, and actor based in Cleveland. After spending a decade in Los Angeles working in the entertainment industry and writing her debut novel, The Water Tower, she returned to Ohio to be closer to family. Amy is working on her second book, a thriller, and in her free time she enjoys going to the theatre, bingeing reality TV, and spending time with her husband and many, many cats. She has a B.A. in English from Kenyon College.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
June 21, 2023
My reading has to pick up, so this was a good start as a mystery thriller in a small town in Ohio. With an iconic water tower serving as no other purpose except a historical landmark, and a climbing pursuit for the youth, something goes wrong. When Josie, a teacher at the local HS, was jogging one day, she comes upon one of her female students Amber dead at the bottom of the tower. Amber is the daughter of Congressman Oldham.
Josie is dealing with her own demons and insomnia causing a mental breakdown in her acting career, so she is home teaching until she can heal. Not sure that is the job she needs! 😳
The plot is simple, but this edge of your seat mystery will find love, clues to solve and a content storyline! Great job to the author for this debut!
Thank you NetGalley, level Best Books and Swell Media for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Josie is dealing with her own demons and insomnia causing a mental breakdown in her acting career, so she is home teaching until she can heal. Not sure that is the job she needs! 😳
The plot is simple, but this edge of your seat mystery will find love, clues to solve and a content storyline! Great job to the author for this debut!
Thank you NetGalley, level Best Books and Swell Media for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
June 26, 2023
Josie Ashbury was a successful Hollywood actress until an on-set breakdown compelled her to return to her small Ohio hometown where she takes a job at the local high school teaching an acting class. Early one morning while out for a run she comes across the body of a student at the base of a historic water tower and involves herself in the investigation, such as it is.
I really enjoyed this debut novel and found it very smooth to read in spite of some segments where we got an overly descriptive rundown of what Josie was wearing and how she matched her boots with her handbag, etc. Josie was a well-written likeable character who wanted to see justice for Amber, the dead girl, even though her family and the police insisted the fall was either suicide or an accident. Talk about your citizens gone rogue! Josie did more investigating than the police did on their best day and you just know she's going to get herself in trouble. Still, I liked Josie as a character and was invested in the story. I'd definitely read another book by this author. I like the cover of the book but it would be more meaningful if there had been the suggestion of a water tower in the mist.
My thanks to Level Best Books via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book which was published on June 20, 2023. All opinions expressed are my own.
I really enjoyed this debut novel and found it very smooth to read in spite of some segments where we got an overly descriptive rundown of what Josie was wearing and how she matched her boots with her handbag, etc. Josie was a well-written likeable character who wanted to see justice for Amber, the dead girl, even though her family and the police insisted the fall was either suicide or an accident. Talk about your citizens gone rogue! Josie did more investigating than the police did on their best day and you just know she's going to get herself in trouble. Still, I liked Josie as a character and was invested in the story. I'd definitely read another book by this author. I like the cover of the book but it would be more meaningful if there had been the suggestion of a water tower in the mist.
My thanks to Level Best Books via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book which was published on June 20, 2023. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 26, 2023
The plot revolves around Josie, a successful young actress who has fled her life in Hollywood and returned to her hometown, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. There she lives in her own house with two cats and works as a drama teacher at the local high school. When one of her students plunges to her death from the town's water tower, it is later discovered that the girl was high on fentanyl when she perished. Josie discovered the girl's body when she was out for her daily morning run. Then, another teen death rocks the town and Josie investigates when the police seem to be apathetic or governed by budgets and political clout.
Meanwhile, Josie is suffering from insomnia, which affects her daily life, thought processes, and impacts her memory. Her three hometown friends provide a much needed support group for her. We know that something caused Josie mental anguish the previous year, but the reader is not privy to her backstory until almost the end of the book. I feel her backstory should have been revealed sooner.
I'm a real cat lover, so I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes that included Josie's two felines, Presley and Monroe.
This debut novel held my interest throughout, though to be honest it read more like a YA novel than one geared toward an adult audience. At times I grew tired of reading about what the characters looked like, the clothes they were wearing, etc. The dialogue with the teenagers was grating at times, though I acknowledge teens do intersperse most sentences with the word 'like', I suggest that the practice was exacerbated here. I liked the rapport Josie seemed to have with her students, and it highlighted the effect of the opioid epidemic and social media on today's teenagers and young adults.
This novel propounds the fact that it is naive and dangerous to be too trusting. The ending provided an excellent segue for a sequel book.
In summation, this was a worthy effort for a debut novel. I enjoyed it enough to read the author's second novel.
Meanwhile, Josie is suffering from insomnia, which affects her daily life, thought processes, and impacts her memory. Her three hometown friends provide a much needed support group for her. We know that something caused Josie mental anguish the previous year, but the reader is not privy to her backstory until almost the end of the book. I feel her backstory should have been revealed sooner.
I'm a real cat lover, so I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes that included Josie's two felines, Presley and Monroe.
This debut novel held my interest throughout, though to be honest it read more like a YA novel than one geared toward an adult audience. At times I grew tired of reading about what the characters looked like, the clothes they were wearing, etc. The dialogue with the teenagers was grating at times, though I acknowledge teens do intersperse most sentences with the word 'like', I suggest that the practice was exacerbated here. I liked the rapport Josie seemed to have with her students, and it highlighted the effect of the opioid epidemic and social media on today's teenagers and young adults.
This novel propounds the fact that it is naive and dangerous to be too trusting. The ending provided an excellent segue for a sequel book.
In summation, this was a worthy effort for a debut novel. I enjoyed it enough to read the author's second novel.
May 18, 2023
The story is a soft mystery that gives us a bit of everything: suspense, lots of intrigue, moderate action, dabbles with drugs and prostitution, creepy old men with underage girls but most of all it give us a good sleuthing story and a very charismatic protagonist aided by a cast of well-rounded characters but they missed flamboyance.
In “The Water Tower” the protagonist is Josie Ashbury, a success Hollywood actress who had a breakdown and returned back home in Ohio to recover. There she gets mixed up with a possible suicide/murder of a high school student and the subsequent suicide of another student. Knowing both students Josie couldn’t stay away from the investigation and soon she was in the thick of it.
Even though this book started pretty good and managed kept me engaged till the very end I felt the author stretched her narrative a bit too much. The simple style, the short chapters and the steady cadence makes up for the simplistic dialogue that is somewhat annoying. The ending is far-fetched but in whole this mystery gives us a good mystery yarn and a decent although predictable whodunit saga.
If or when a sequel comes out I would have a go at it.
I received this ARC from Level Best Book via Netgalley for my thoughts.
In “The Water Tower” the protagonist is Josie Ashbury, a success Hollywood actress who had a breakdown and returned back home in Ohio to recover. There she gets mixed up with a possible suicide/murder of a high school student and the subsequent suicide of another student. Knowing both students Josie couldn’t stay away from the investigation and soon she was in the thick of it.
Even though this book started pretty good and managed kept me engaged till the very end I felt the author stretched her narrative a bit too much. The simple style, the short chapters and the steady cadence makes up for the simplistic dialogue that is somewhat annoying. The ending is far-fetched but in whole this mystery gives us a good mystery yarn and a decent although predictable whodunit saga.
If or when a sequel comes out I would have a go at it.
I received this ARC from Level Best Book via Netgalley for my thoughts.
January 27, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and level best books for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
The water tower is a story of an young Hollywood actress Josie who after a breakdown is on break from an acting career and starts talking acting lessons in her hometown school. The first death that takes place at the start of the book is the central mystery.
It was pretty obvious "who was responsible for everything" because I had figured it out pretty early. The suspense of Josie's life was something that I had predicted way before it was revealed. There were just subtle clues to it but even then it was obvious for me.
It is an interesting read but it lacks shocking factor as well as the urgency that keeps a reader on the edge. Although I was curious for the reveal and kept reading, upon final reveal I felt like disappointed. Enjoyable but not my favorite thriller.
The water tower is a story of an young Hollywood actress Josie who after a breakdown is on break from an acting career and starts talking acting lessons in her hometown school. The first death that takes place at the start of the book is the central mystery.
It was pretty obvious "who was responsible for everything" because I had figured it out pretty early. The suspense of Josie's life was something that I had predicted way before it was revealed. There were just subtle clues to it but even then it was obvious for me.
It is an interesting read but it lacks shocking factor as well as the urgency that keeps a reader on the edge. Although I was curious for the reveal and kept reading, upon final reveal I felt like disappointed. Enjoyable but not my favorite thriller.
May 19, 2023
This is a good book about a Hollywood actress Josie, who moves back to her hometown after a difficult year, only to face more struggles, when one of her students dies suspiciously.
The book kept me interested, with good character development. A really twisty, yet predictable plot, but I wanted to keep reading until the end. 3.5 Stars
Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review.
The book kept me interested, with good character development. A really twisty, yet predictable plot, but I wanted to keep reading until the end. 3.5 Stars
Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review.
May 6, 2024
3.75 stars
The premise of this book was intriguing. The story itself caught my attention reasonably well, but some parts felt wildly improbable (the teacher just shows up at the house of the dead student whose body she found and is asking a bunch of questions, and the majority of people don’t think that’s intensely inappropriate?? among other pieces lol). I didn’t love everything about it, but I did like a fair bit, and I think the good probably outweighed the less-than-good. I’m glad I was finally able to go back and explore this novel.
An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of this book was intriguing. The story itself caught my attention reasonably well, but some parts felt wildly improbable (the teacher just shows up at the house of the dead student whose body she found and is asking a bunch of questions, and the majority of people don’t think that’s intensely inappropriate?? among other pieces lol). I didn’t love everything about it, but I did like a fair bit, and I think the good probably outweighed the less-than-good. I’m glad I was finally able to go back and explore this novel.
An ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2023
I received an ARC for an honest review. I really enjoyed this thriller, I was hooked from the start. Throughout the book I kept guessing what was going to happen. I enjoyed the high school environment and the POV from a teacher rather than student. The only thing I didn’t like about this book is how the author portrayed high schoolers and the way they speak. “Like” was used a little too much, it became annoying. Otherwise, I would recommend this book! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.
June 14, 2023
I really enjoyed this book! The unreliable narrator was a twist I had not expected and made this story more interesting. It felt a bit straightforward before that point, so that was much needed. I loved the switching narrators and hint of a sequel at the end. There’s definitely a lot more to this story to be told. Thank you NetGalley and Level Best Books for the ARC!
May 14, 2023
This is a fast-paced fun thriller that kept me engaged until the surprising end! Josie left stardom for a teaching job and is now dating fellow teacher, Jake. But she is also plagued with insomnia, nightmares, and hallucinations that leave her breathless and frightened in the morning. So when one of her students is found dead at the bottom of the water tower close to her home, she is shocked as she feels there are clues that she's somehow missing. And yes, there are clues, mysterious happenings, a creepy members-only club, and diabolical plans afoot! I was riveted!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
April 5, 2023
I received a free ARC of The Water Tower in exchange for an unbiased review.
So many problems with this book. Former successful actress Josie has returned to her hometown after a very public breakdown. She secures a job teaching acting at the local high school, her alma mater. Close childhood friends and her family are very supportive but Josie initially appears ditzy and forgetful.
Out for a morning run, Josie discovers the body of one of her students, Amber; her death was caused by a fall or leap from a water tower. The autopsy also shows deadly amounts of fentanyl. Josie is determined to discover the truth about Amber's death.
Problems for this reader include the abysmal way Josie treated Amber's mother, the overwhelming concern for Josie's health without explanation for readers, the horrendous overuse of "like" every time a teen speaks, and the incredible acceptance by law enforcement that money and power can end investigations. Worst of all, there is a hint of a sequel.
So many problems with this book. Former successful actress Josie has returned to her hometown after a very public breakdown. She secures a job teaching acting at the local high school, her alma mater. Close childhood friends and her family are very supportive but Josie initially appears ditzy and forgetful.
Out for a morning run, Josie discovers the body of one of her students, Amber; her death was caused by a fall or leap from a water tower. The autopsy also shows deadly amounts of fentanyl. Josie is determined to discover the truth about Amber's death.
Problems for this reader include the abysmal way Josie treated Amber's mother, the overwhelming concern for Josie's health without explanation for readers, the horrendous overuse of "like" every time a teen speaks, and the incredible acceptance by law enforcement that money and power can end investigations. Worst of all, there is a hint of a sequel.
July 31, 2023
Josie Ashbury is a famous Hollywood actress who has returned home to small town Ohio to recover from a series of traumatic events (some we are privy to right away, some are revealed later in the story). Being back in Lakeview seems good for her, at first, and she enjoys getting reacquainted with her longtime friends and working as an acting teacher at the local high school (which is almost literally in her back yard). She even is friendly with her first love and quickly falling for a new one. But, she is struggling with severe insomnia and her friends are concerned. All of that pales, though, when Josie stumbles on the body of one of her students at the base of the town’s infamous water tower.
What follows is a shiver-inducing plot with definite psychological thriller vibes. I love stories where you can’t quite decide if there is an unreliable narrator or not, until of course it becomes clear one way or the other. And I thought Amy Young did a great job of constructing certain story elements to perpetuate this ambiguity as she continued to reveal layers bit by bit, keeping the whole truth just out of reach until the right moment. I eventually got to the point that I didn’t trust anyone, not even Josie, and two separate revelations made me want to go back and re-read the whole thing with that newly-gained knowledge in mind.
Bottom Line: The Water Tower is a suspenseful mystery featuring a compelling-but-troubled amateur sleuth who is supported by a close circle of friends, a compassionate therapist, and her faithful feline companions. Now if she could only sleep! Josie’s insomnia adds to the psychological tension that is always close at hand, and her uncertainty – as to what’s true and what’s not – matched my own. A couple of surprising twists kept me turning the pages, and the ending leaves just enough loose threads to keep readers eager for book two! There were some writing choices that I didn’t love, particularly when it came to the distracting overuse of the word ‘like’ when any teenager was talking. But overall, this was an entertaining novel with the promise of more to come.
Reviewer’s Note: Readers may want to be aware that this book contains a moderate amount of mild cursing and a couple of profanities, as well as the ‘closed door’ implication of intimate activity. There are also some possible triggers for readers who have sensitivity to discussions of suicide, teen death, drug abuse or underage prostitution.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
What follows is a shiver-inducing plot with definite psychological thriller vibes. I love stories where you can’t quite decide if there is an unreliable narrator or not, until of course it becomes clear one way or the other. And I thought Amy Young did a great job of constructing certain story elements to perpetuate this ambiguity as she continued to reveal layers bit by bit, keeping the whole truth just out of reach until the right moment. I eventually got to the point that I didn’t trust anyone, not even Josie, and two separate revelations made me want to go back and re-read the whole thing with that newly-gained knowledge in mind.
Bottom Line: The Water Tower is a suspenseful mystery featuring a compelling-but-troubled amateur sleuth who is supported by a close circle of friends, a compassionate therapist, and her faithful feline companions. Now if she could only sleep! Josie’s insomnia adds to the psychological tension that is always close at hand, and her uncertainty – as to what’s true and what’s not – matched my own. A couple of surprising twists kept me turning the pages, and the ending leaves just enough loose threads to keep readers eager for book two! There were some writing choices that I didn’t love, particularly when it came to the distracting overuse of the word ‘like’ when any teenager was talking. But overall, this was an entertaining novel with the promise of more to come.
Reviewer’s Note: Readers may want to be aware that this book contains a moderate amount of mild cursing and a couple of profanities, as well as the ‘closed door’ implication of intimate activity. There are also some possible triggers for readers who have sensitivity to discussions of suicide, teen death, drug abuse or underage prostitution.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
October 20, 2023
The water tower.
Amy Young.
Murder thrillers.
The water tower where everything began or maybe ended.. This was a well written book.
This story had a movie star, school teachers, students. Famous people, rich people. And oh, so much more. This was an absolutely good book. I truly enjoyed this one. The further I got into the story. The more interesting it became.
The Who done it.this was very intriguing. Because I couldn't figure it out. It really shocked me who the killer was. Sometimes, people will do things. To save their own skin. This was a fabulous read.
Sometimes, I can figure out the killer in books before the end of the story. Well, this time I could not . I never saw the killer till it was to late.
But this was a really good book. I enjoyed it.
I highly recommend this one because well, it will keep you intrigued to the very end..
I actually liked everything about this book.
A perfect read.
Amy Young.
Murder thrillers.
The water tower where everything began or maybe ended.. This was a well written book.
This story had a movie star, school teachers, students. Famous people, rich people. And oh, so much more. This was an absolutely good book. I truly enjoyed this one. The further I got into the story. The more interesting it became.
The Who done it.this was very intriguing. Because I couldn't figure it out. It really shocked me who the killer was. Sometimes, people will do things. To save their own skin. This was a fabulous read.
Sometimes, I can figure out the killer in books before the end of the story. Well, this time I could not . I never saw the killer till it was to late.
But this was a really good book. I enjoyed it.
I highly recommend this one because well, it will keep you intrigued to the very end..
I actually liked everything about this book.
A perfect read.
June 15, 2023
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
ohh this was an interesting read, josie ashbury is a successful actress returning home to re-charge her batteries after a very public melt down
josie has trouble sleeping most nights so normally ends up getting up early to jog, and on one of these morning jogs she comes across a body of young girl
an apparent suicide
but josie is haunted by this event and has less sleep, its all spiralling out of control and things start to go bad very quickly....
and maybe the trouble is closer at hand than she realises...
ohh this was an interesting read, josie ashbury is a successful actress returning home to re-charge her batteries after a very public melt down
josie has trouble sleeping most nights so normally ends up getting up early to jog, and on one of these morning jogs she comes across a body of young girl
an apparent suicide
but josie is haunted by this event and has less sleep, its all spiralling out of control and things start to go bad very quickly....
and maybe the trouble is closer at hand than she realises...
May 19, 2023
This is a good book about a Hollywood actress Josie, who moves back to her hometown after a difficult year, only to face more struggles, when one of her students dies suspiciously.
The book kept me interested, with good character development. A really twisty, yet predictable plot, but I wanted to keep reading until the end.
Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review.
The book kept me interested, with good character development. A really twisty, yet predictable plot, but I wanted to keep reading until the end.
Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review.
June 17, 2023
The Water Tower is certainly a story full of twists and turns!
A quick read that was ok.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
A quick read that was ok.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Want to read
March 20, 2023A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
June 30, 2023
A mystery thriller set in a small town in Ohio, where an iconic water tower servies as no other purpose except a historical landmark, and a climbing pursuit for the youth. When something goes wrong: Josie, a teacher at the local high school, was out jogging and comes upon one of her female students, Amber, dead at the bottom of the water tower. Amber is the daughter of the Congressman Oldham.
Josie is dealing with her own demons; insomnia causing a mental breakdown in her acting career, so she is back at home teaching until she can heal.
The plot is simple, but this edge of your seat mystery will find love, clues to solve and a content storyline! Great job to the author for this debut!
Josie is dealing with her own demons; insomnia causing a mental breakdown in her acting career, so she is back at home teaching until she can heal.
The plot is simple, but this edge of your seat mystery will find love, clues to solve and a content storyline! Great job to the author for this debut!
April 6, 2023
Thank you to Level Best Books for providing me an ARC copy for review. I always love a good thriller so when I saw this one I def wanted to read it. It started off pretty good and I was happy to see that the chapters were short. This one though fell short for me and give it a average rating for a thriller. The writing was good but I just felt like it dragged a bit. The investigation was interesting as Josie tried to figure out what went wrong but other than that its your typical Thriller.
April 24, 2023
The Water Tower had me hooked from page one. The story starts off with a murder and the pace doesn't slow down. I absolutely loved Josephine's character. She made the story flow and had me glued to the book.
I can not believe this is a debut novel. Young had us hanging on to every word and had well developed characters. The plot was solid, and plenty of twists and turns, this is a definite must-read murder mystery. May be a possibility of a sequal? I really hope so.
Thank you NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I can not believe this is a debut novel. Young had us hanging on to every word and had well developed characters. The plot was solid, and plenty of twists and turns, this is a definite must-read murder mystery. May be a possibility of a sequal? I really hope so.
Thank you NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2023
Amy Young's debut mystery, The Water Tower is a fast paced page turner.
Josie has recently returned to her hometown to take a break from her Hollywood acting career in a Bond type series. Out on an early morning run, Josie discovers a body at the foot of the water tower. Did this girl from a prominent family jump or was it a homicide? What would have caused her to do it? Who would have wanted her dead and why? Why does the family close down the official investgation? Josie feels there is more to the story and she is compelled to discover the truth.
Filled with unexpected twists, The Water Tower, keeps you guessing throughout.
I appreciated receiving an ARC for my honest review.
Josie has recently returned to her hometown to take a break from her Hollywood acting career in a Bond type series. Out on an early morning run, Josie discovers a body at the foot of the water tower. Did this girl from a prominent family jump or was it a homicide? What would have caused her to do it? Who would have wanted her dead and why? Why does the family close down the official investgation? Josie feels there is more to the story and she is compelled to discover the truth.
Filled with unexpected twists, The Water Tower, keeps you guessing throughout.
I appreciated receiving an ARC for my honest review.
May 27, 2023
It is the middle of a chilly October night, and Amber Oldham is up on the water tower near her high school. She is contemplating her life and where it will lead when the next thing that happens, she is on the ground—dead.
That evening Josie Ashbury, unable to sleep again, gets up to make a cup of tea, hoping that will help her insomnia. She looks out her kitchen window and sees what she believes is someone up on the water tower. The water tower is an icon in a small Ohio town. Off limits, there are stories of kids going up there to drink or as a prank, and it’s been a controversy with the townspeople wanting it town down.
After having a meltdown as an actress in a popular TV show, Josie Ashbury is back in her hometown. She had been having an affair with her co-star, James Bleeker, and she believed they had a future together, only to realize it was a farce. Needing time to recoup and put her life back together, she returns to where she feels safe and loved. Though she wants to blend into the background, she is still considered a celebrity.
Josie bought a small house that backs up to Lakeview High School, where she was once a student, and now has a job teaching acting to the student. She loves the convenience so she can walk to work, and she is athletic and manages to run every morning either through the town or at the high school track.
She feels content with her two felines while figuring out what will become the rest of her life. At the same time, she sorts out all her anxieties and why she is having trouble sleeping which causes her to forget things.
So, Josie bushes off her sighting of someone on the tower as a form of insomnia. Still, the following day on her run, she heads home by the tower and discovers the body of one of her students splayed out on the ground by the tower. The student is Amber Oldham, one of her favorites and a kid she’s gotten close to. What happened? Did she jump? Was she pushed? In talks with Amber, Josie didn’t notice anything untoward going on, so it seems improbable she jumped, and if so, who pushed her?
Amber is the only child of Senator Clinton Oldham, a prominent member of society and one of the upper class. Josie calls the authorities, and Officer Sean Sullivan, Josie’s high school crush, shows up at the scene. This is big news, and answers must be found immediately.
Because Josie has found Amber’s body, she feels she needs to help in the investigation, even against Sean’s instructions to let the police handle things.
Meanwhile, the town is in an uproar, and when it is found out Amber had drugs in her system and was also pregnant, thoughts lead to murder. The first suspect is Amber’s boyfriend, Tony Burgess.
As this is happening, Josie starts dating another teacher, a handsome guy named Jake Johnson. They see each other often, and Josie wonders if their relationship could actually be going somewhere. After her fiasco with James, she’s afraid to trust again.
Struggling through insomnia, the fear that there is a killer loose, worries about her future, and trying to calm the demons from her past, Josie has her plate full. Will the truth come out about Amber’s demise? Will Tony be charged? As the plot thickens, more unexpected things come to light, which are shocking and unbelievable. This novel, filled with suspense and terror, is a page-turner, sure to raise the hair on the back of your neck.
That evening Josie Ashbury, unable to sleep again, gets up to make a cup of tea, hoping that will help her insomnia. She looks out her kitchen window and sees what she believes is someone up on the water tower. The water tower is an icon in a small Ohio town. Off limits, there are stories of kids going up there to drink or as a prank, and it’s been a controversy with the townspeople wanting it town down.
After having a meltdown as an actress in a popular TV show, Josie Ashbury is back in her hometown. She had been having an affair with her co-star, James Bleeker, and she believed they had a future together, only to realize it was a farce. Needing time to recoup and put her life back together, she returns to where she feels safe and loved. Though she wants to blend into the background, she is still considered a celebrity.
Josie bought a small house that backs up to Lakeview High School, where she was once a student, and now has a job teaching acting to the student. She loves the convenience so she can walk to work, and she is athletic and manages to run every morning either through the town or at the high school track.
She feels content with her two felines while figuring out what will become the rest of her life. At the same time, she sorts out all her anxieties and why she is having trouble sleeping which causes her to forget things.
So, Josie bushes off her sighting of someone on the tower as a form of insomnia. Still, the following day on her run, she heads home by the tower and discovers the body of one of her students splayed out on the ground by the tower. The student is Amber Oldham, one of her favorites and a kid she’s gotten close to. What happened? Did she jump? Was she pushed? In talks with Amber, Josie didn’t notice anything untoward going on, so it seems improbable she jumped, and if so, who pushed her?
Amber is the only child of Senator Clinton Oldham, a prominent member of society and one of the upper class. Josie calls the authorities, and Officer Sean Sullivan, Josie’s high school crush, shows up at the scene. This is big news, and answers must be found immediately.
Because Josie has found Amber’s body, she feels she needs to help in the investigation, even against Sean’s instructions to let the police handle things.
Meanwhile, the town is in an uproar, and when it is found out Amber had drugs in her system and was also pregnant, thoughts lead to murder. The first suspect is Amber’s boyfriend, Tony Burgess.
As this is happening, Josie starts dating another teacher, a handsome guy named Jake Johnson. They see each other often, and Josie wonders if their relationship could actually be going somewhere. After her fiasco with James, she’s afraid to trust again.
Struggling through insomnia, the fear that there is a killer loose, worries about her future, and trying to calm the demons from her past, Josie has her plate full. Will the truth come out about Amber’s demise? Will Tony be charged? As the plot thickens, more unexpected things come to light, which are shocking and unbelievable. This novel, filled with suspense and terror, is a page-turner, sure to raise the hair on the back of your neck.
May 2, 2023
The story had an interesting premise and I hoped it would be a good crime thriller. Did not quite work out like that.
Josephine (Josie) Ashbury leaves a good Hollywood career as an actress after a breakdown, and comes to her hometown – Lakeview. She has cats for company and is trying to get on with life, though she still struggles with moods and hardly sleeps at night. She teaches acting at the local school, and is dating Jake who also teaches at the school.
Josie finds Amber Oldham, a senior girl at school dead near the water tower. Josie had got to know Amber well in school. Her dad is Congressman Clinton Oldham. While the water tower does not serve any functional purpose now, it has been retained as a historical landmark and some youngsters still take pleasure in climbing to the top. It is possible Amber fell, though it is not clear why she would go there in the night. An autopsy reveals drugs (fentanyl) in her blood and she is pregnant. Did any troubles prompt her to jump / was it an accident or was she murdered? Josie speaks to her friends Morgan, Lexi, Charlotte and Tony. Sean, at one time Josie’s boyfriend, many years back, is now in the police, and his dad Mike Sullivan is the police chief. After a brief investigation, the police close the case as an accident, presumably under pressure. Josie also confides in her friends Nikki, Alex & Heather, other than her boyfriend Jake, and they try their best to support her. Josie is convinced Amber did not fall, and there is a story behind all this.
The story is very predictable and I formed my suspicions very early in the book. Lot of the sleuthing engaged in by Josie with help from her friends is simplistic. Josie is a likeable character but lot of what she is going through is partly explained very late in the story. None of the other characters are well developed. Overall, not a very satisfying read.
Thanks to Netgalley, Level Best Books and the author for a free electronic review copy.
Josephine (Josie) Ashbury leaves a good Hollywood career as an actress after a breakdown, and comes to her hometown – Lakeview. She has cats for company and is trying to get on with life, though she still struggles with moods and hardly sleeps at night. She teaches acting at the local school, and is dating Jake who also teaches at the school.
Josie finds Amber Oldham, a senior girl at school dead near the water tower. Josie had got to know Amber well in school. Her dad is Congressman Clinton Oldham. While the water tower does not serve any functional purpose now, it has been retained as a historical landmark and some youngsters still take pleasure in climbing to the top. It is possible Amber fell, though it is not clear why she would go there in the night. An autopsy reveals drugs (fentanyl) in her blood and she is pregnant. Did any troubles prompt her to jump / was it an accident or was she murdered? Josie speaks to her friends Morgan, Lexi, Charlotte and Tony. Sean, at one time Josie’s boyfriend, many years back, is now in the police, and his dad Mike Sullivan is the police chief. After a brief investigation, the police close the case as an accident, presumably under pressure. Josie also confides in her friends Nikki, Alex & Heather, other than her boyfriend Jake, and they try their best to support her. Josie is convinced Amber did not fall, and there is a story behind all this.
The story is very predictable and I formed my suspicions very early in the book. Lot of the sleuthing engaged in by Josie with help from her friends is simplistic. Josie is a likeable character but lot of what she is going through is partly explained very late in the story. None of the other characters are well developed. Overall, not a very satisfying read.
Thanks to Netgalley, Level Best Books and the author for a free electronic review copy.
May 27, 2023
ARC provided by Level Best Books via NetGalley for an honest review.
This book has some strengths, but it also has many weaknesses. The weaknesses, unfortunately got in the way of some of the strengths, but I see potential in this author and would certainly give her next book a chance.
First off the strengths:
The main plot of the story was quite good, even when it went off in a direction I wasn’t anticipating. The mystery was well done and had a nice surprise twist.
Josie was a likable character as were most of her friends that she hung out with. I liked that she suffered from insomnia, something I also struggle with, and felt that it was an honest portrayal of what it is like to live with that issue.
The setting was well done, you really feel like you are in a small town and all that that entails. The pacing was also good, just fast enough to keep me interested, but slow enough that I wasn’t overwhelmed.
The issues surrounding opioid addiction was handled sensitively while also stressing the importance of getting help for those who need it.
The weaknesses:
Josie’s motivation for wanting to solve what happened to her students was weak. Just because she liked them, didn’t feel honest enough for me. I wanted a bit more from that, like maybe her missing being a detective on the TV show. Or perhaps something in her past that is driving her to solve the mystery.
The dialogue, especially when a teenager was talking, had me cringing everytime. Teens, just, like, don’t really talk like that , like, you know? But even some of the conversations between adults was a bit stilted and awkward.
Even though I liked the plot, the twist at the end kind of came out of nowhere. There were no hints along the way that pointed to any character that we met having committed the murders and then bam, we have someone admitting to the crimes. The story seemed to be going one way and then went in a totally different direction.
The big reason that Josie was suffering from insomnia and the reason for her breakdown didn’t come up until almost the end of the book. It would have been nice to learn of this a bit earlier as it does account for some of her actions and speaks to the type of person she was.
Overall this wasn’t a bad book, I do see potential in this author’s work. I hope that this review isn’t too negative, and you should maybe give this book a chance as there were some really good things about. Also, some of the issues may be caught before publication and changed.
https://elnadesbookchat.com
This book has some strengths, but it also has many weaknesses. The weaknesses, unfortunately got in the way of some of the strengths, but I see potential in this author and would certainly give her next book a chance.
First off the strengths:
The main plot of the story was quite good, even when it went off in a direction I wasn’t anticipating. The mystery was well done and had a nice surprise twist.
Josie was a likable character as were most of her friends that she hung out with. I liked that she suffered from insomnia, something I also struggle with, and felt that it was an honest portrayal of what it is like to live with that issue.
The setting was well done, you really feel like you are in a small town and all that that entails. The pacing was also good, just fast enough to keep me interested, but slow enough that I wasn’t overwhelmed.
The issues surrounding opioid addiction was handled sensitively while also stressing the importance of getting help for those who need it.
The weaknesses:
Josie’s motivation for wanting to solve what happened to her students was weak. Just because she liked them, didn’t feel honest enough for me. I wanted a bit more from that, like maybe her missing being a detective on the TV show. Or perhaps something in her past that is driving her to solve the mystery.
The dialogue, especially when a teenager was talking, had me cringing everytime. Teens, just, like, don’t really talk like that , like, you know? But even some of the conversations between adults was a bit stilted and awkward.
Even though I liked the plot, the twist at the end kind of came out of nowhere. There were no hints along the way that pointed to any character that we met having committed the murders and then bam, we have someone admitting to the crimes. The story seemed to be going one way and then went in a totally different direction.
The big reason that Josie was suffering from insomnia and the reason for her breakdown didn’t come up until almost the end of the book. It would have been nice to learn of this a bit earlier as it does account for some of her actions and speaks to the type of person she was.
Overall this wasn’t a bad book, I do see potential in this author’s work. I hope that this review isn’t too negative, and you should maybe give this book a chance as there were some really good things about. Also, some of the issues may be caught before publication and changed.
https://elnadesbookchat.com
June 11, 2023
I received an ARC thru NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Josie has moved back to her hometown of Lakeview, Ohio from L.A. where she was a movie/tv actress. While filming her tv series, she suffered a breakdown and decided then that she needed a break. Josie is having problems sleeping at night and in this instance, she looked out and thought that she saw someone on the water tower. The next morning when returning from her normal run, she came across a body. She then called 911 to report it. She discovered that she knew the victim who was a student in her high school class. The victim was also the daughter of a political family.
Once the police received the autopsy report they classified the death as an accident/suicide. Also while the police were investigating, they found drugs in the boyfriend's school locker and arrested him. The police also suspected the boyfriend of being the killer. Pressure was put on the police, so they closed the case.
Josie upon learning of them closing the case decided that she would look into it herself. Knowing both the victim and boyfriend, she believed the victim was murdered and the boyfriend was being framed. As time went by, the boyfriend was released on bond, but also was suspended from going to school. Not long after, the boyfriend died and the cause of death was considered a suicide.
Josie along with her friend Nicki continued their investigation and eventually were able to put all the pieces together. Josie was warned to be careful by Sean, her high school boyfriend and a member of the police dept. Things finally came to head during a festival.
To learn what Josie discovered, how her brother came into play, What Josie discovered as a common factor and who the real killer was, then you need to read this book. You won't be disappointed.
Josie has moved back to her hometown of Lakeview, Ohio from L.A. where she was a movie/tv actress. While filming her tv series, she suffered a breakdown and decided then that she needed a break. Josie is having problems sleeping at night and in this instance, she looked out and thought that she saw someone on the water tower. The next morning when returning from her normal run, she came across a body. She then called 911 to report it. She discovered that she knew the victim who was a student in her high school class. The victim was also the daughter of a political family.
Once the police received the autopsy report they classified the death as an accident/suicide. Also while the police were investigating, they found drugs in the boyfriend's school locker and arrested him. The police also suspected the boyfriend of being the killer. Pressure was put on the police, so they closed the case.
Josie upon learning of them closing the case decided that she would look into it herself. Knowing both the victim and boyfriend, she believed the victim was murdered and the boyfriend was being framed. As time went by, the boyfriend was released on bond, but also was suspended from going to school. Not long after, the boyfriend died and the cause of death was considered a suicide.
Josie along with her friend Nicki continued their investigation and eventually were able to put all the pieces together. Josie was warned to be careful by Sean, her high school boyfriend and a member of the police dept. Things finally came to head during a festival.
To learn what Josie discovered, how her brother came into play, What Josie discovered as a common factor and who the real killer was, then you need to read this book. You won't be disappointed.
July 4, 2023
Amy Young does a good job of creating a picture of what life is like in small towns in Ohio, especially those near big towns such as Cleveland, in her novel The Water Tower sent in Lakeview, Ohio. Young introduces Josie Ashbury, who left Lakeview for Hollywood and success as an actress. A nervous breakdown has brought her home to recover. To occupy her time, she convinces the high school principal to let her teach acting classes to the students. Problems start as she gets close to one student who dies after falling off the water tower that titles the piece and Josie discovers the body. Josie is convinced that something significant is going on, though the girl‘s father uses his wealth and power to put an end to the official police investigation. Josie, however, continues her investigation, which leads her to the O Club, a night club associated with an elite establishment in Cleveland. While the reason for the student’s death is finally revealed in a surprising twist that seems a bit forced, the story ends with Josie moving forward on her investigation of the events at the O Club.
While Ms Young creates some interesting, though at times juvenile characters (Josie is described several times as sticking her tongue out at someone in a childish retort for a grown woman), she needs help from a good editor to help her keep her facts straight. For example, in Chapter 40, Franklin Mather sets Josie’s dinner reservation for Thursday, though he calls her on. Friday, and she asks to visit “tomorrow” (p, 175). Later, in Chapter 54, Young mixes up John’s daughters Emma and Victoria when describing one as laying her head back on her father’s chest. Since this was an Advanced Reader’s copy, readers can hope these kinds of errors were caught befor the final version was published. Now we can look forward to the next book’s arrival to learn what is really going on at the O Club.
While Ms Young creates some interesting, though at times juvenile characters (Josie is described several times as sticking her tongue out at someone in a childish retort for a grown woman), she needs help from a good editor to help her keep her facts straight. For example, in Chapter 40, Franklin Mather sets Josie’s dinner reservation for Thursday, though he calls her on. Friday, and she asks to visit “tomorrow” (p, 175). Later, in Chapter 54, Young mixes up John’s daughters Emma and Victoria when describing one as laying her head back on her father’s chest. Since this was an Advanced Reader’s copy, readers can hope these kinds of errors were caught befor the final version was published. Now we can look forward to the next book’s arrival to learn what is really going on at the O Club.
October 13, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you Amy Young and Partners In Crime Tours. I am excited to be a part of the tour!
In The Water Tower we meet Josie Ashbury. She was a successful Hollywood actress with a booming career until an on-set breakdown sends her back to her small Ohio hometown to recover. She takes a teaching job at her old high school. As the pieces of her life fall back into place one of her students dies under suspicious circumstances. The police want to close the case quickly without an investigation.
Josie is determined to find the truth behind the girl’s death while battling demons of her own. Debilitating insomnia leaves her with gaps in her memory. The more she learns the more she realizes the truth is much closer to home than she believed.
I enjoyed this mystery. The dead girl, being a senator’s daughter added depth to the plot. It also explained the lack of investigation by the police. Josie, unsatisfied with the cover up, decides to investigate on her own. As she digs, she finds herself in big trouble. I like the writing style and short chapters allowed me to read this book quickly. The book is nicely paced and kept me engaged from start to finish.
I also liked the small-town vibe. I’ve lived in small towns and the author does a great job of bringing it alive. It also gave me a bit of nostalgia as I live in the city now. The characters are well developed and played well off one another. I like the book that included relevant topics such as opioids and the dangers of them. I appreciate the way the author handled this with sensitivity.
I look forward to reading more from this author. The book hints that we may see Josie again. I hope we do. I would love for this to become a series and join in on her next adventure!
In The Water Tower we meet Josie Ashbury. She was a successful Hollywood actress with a booming career until an on-set breakdown sends her back to her small Ohio hometown to recover. She takes a teaching job at her old high school. As the pieces of her life fall back into place one of her students dies under suspicious circumstances. The police want to close the case quickly without an investigation.
Josie is determined to find the truth behind the girl’s death while battling demons of her own. Debilitating insomnia leaves her with gaps in her memory. The more she learns the more she realizes the truth is much closer to home than she believed.
I enjoyed this mystery. The dead girl, being a senator’s daughter added depth to the plot. It also explained the lack of investigation by the police. Josie, unsatisfied with the cover up, decides to investigate on her own. As she digs, she finds herself in big trouble. I like the writing style and short chapters allowed me to read this book quickly. The book is nicely paced and kept me engaged from start to finish.
I also liked the small-town vibe. I’ve lived in small towns and the author does a great job of bringing it alive. It also gave me a bit of nostalgia as I live in the city now. The characters are well developed and played well off one another. I like the book that included relevant topics such as opioids and the dangers of them. I appreciate the way the author handled this with sensitivity.
I look forward to reading more from this author. The book hints that we may see Josie again. I hope we do. I would love for this to become a series and join in on her next adventure!
April 15, 2023
#TheWaterTower is Amy Young's fantastic debut 'whodunnit'. I was hooked from the first page, and I love it when a book does that.
So, here's the lowdown: something's not quite right in the small Ohio town of Lakeview. When a high school student, Ivy League candidate, falls from a water tower, her death shocks the local community. They're split on what happened - was it suicide or something more sinister?
The local police have their hands tied as the case is shut down by local politicians, but Josephine Ashbury, a local actor catapulted to fame with a breakthrough 'Bond girl' role, can't help but start snooping around and playing detective. Is she ready for the dangers that lie ahead? Josie has only just returned to her hometown after some very troubling events that left her scarred with PTSD. You feel for her, but she's not the most reliable detective.
This is a fun crime story with all the necessary ingredients: fully developed characters, a good line-up of suspects, and well-constructed plot twists with many rabbit holes for us to explore. Let's just hope that Josie can come out unharmed. Amy Young has crafted a competent murder mystery, and I predict a whole Josephine Ashbury series stemming from this debut. I'm rooting for her!"
Big thanks to Netgalley and Level Best Books publishers for the opportunity to access the advance review copy.
#thewatertower #netgalley #caninebibliophile #whodunnit #whodunnitbooks #murdermystery #thriller #womensfiction #levelbestbooks
#bookreview #pudseyrecommends #netgalleymember #books #booksbooksandmorebooks #readingisfundamental #bookstagram #booklover #book #bookrecommendations #booksbooksandmorebooks #bookaddict #booklove #readingisfundamental #dogsreadingbooks
So, here's the lowdown: something's not quite right in the small Ohio town of Lakeview. When a high school student, Ivy League candidate, falls from a water tower, her death shocks the local community. They're split on what happened - was it suicide or something more sinister?
The local police have their hands tied as the case is shut down by local politicians, but Josephine Ashbury, a local actor catapulted to fame with a breakthrough 'Bond girl' role, can't help but start snooping around and playing detective. Is she ready for the dangers that lie ahead? Josie has only just returned to her hometown after some very troubling events that left her scarred with PTSD. You feel for her, but she's not the most reliable detective.
This is a fun crime story with all the necessary ingredients: fully developed characters, a good line-up of suspects, and well-constructed plot twists with many rabbit holes for us to explore. Let's just hope that Josie can come out unharmed. Amy Young has crafted a competent murder mystery, and I predict a whole Josephine Ashbury series stemming from this debut. I'm rooting for her!"
Big thanks to Netgalley and Level Best Books publishers for the opportunity to access the advance review copy.
#thewatertower #netgalley #caninebibliophile #whodunnit #whodunnitbooks #murdermystery #thriller #womensfiction #levelbestbooks
#bookreview #pudseyrecommends #netgalleymember #books #booksbooksandmorebooks #readingisfundamental #bookstagram #booklover #book #bookrecommendations #booksbooksandmorebooks #bookaddict #booklove #readingisfundamental #dogsreadingbooks
June 15, 2023
The Water Tower by Amy Young #fortiethbookof2023 #arc
CW: death, murder, suicide, drug abuse and overdoses, teen pregnancy, statutory rape
Okay, so this book has an interesting premise: former actress moves home to her small town and becomes a teacher, and decides to investigate the murder of a student after she finds the body. It was a good story, but lots of little details annoyed me. First of all, extremely unreliable narrator alert!
Josie is hella naive for someone her age, and with her age and experience, she should be smarter and more considerate than she is. She has no issues with questioning people related to the murder before the police can do so. And the police don’t really seem to mind, and in fact, share details with her that she spreads all over town. She’s a careless person who isn’t very thoughtful, she doesn’t pay attention to literally anything but her own thoughts, and I didn’t really like her as a person.
I cannot tell you how extremely unlikely it is that not a single person in this book has brown eyes. We learn the eye color of literally every character, no matter how minor, and they’re all green, green, or blue. No brown? Sure. And they’re all sparking, luminous, dazzling, etc. No lifeless dead eyes in this town?
I didn’t love the outdated terminology for sex work used by a character. This was a very fast paced, easy read, and I did enjoy it, even with all the little quibbles. There is an interesting revelation at about 80% which explained a lot of continuity problems. This isn’t for your hardcore thriller fans, but it’s a pleasant way to spend a few hours.
Thank you to @netgalley and @levelbestbooks for the advance copy. (Pub date 6/20/23)
CW: death, murder, suicide, drug abuse and overdoses, teen pregnancy, statutory rape
Okay, so this book has an interesting premise: former actress moves home to her small town and becomes a teacher, and decides to investigate the murder of a student after she finds the body. It was a good story, but lots of little details annoyed me. First of all, extremely unreliable narrator alert!
Josie is hella naive for someone her age, and with her age and experience, she should be smarter and more considerate than she is. She has no issues with questioning people related to the murder before the police can do so. And the police don’t really seem to mind, and in fact, share details with her that she spreads all over town. She’s a careless person who isn’t very thoughtful, she doesn’t pay attention to literally anything but her own thoughts, and I didn’t really like her as a person.
I cannot tell you how extremely unlikely it is that not a single person in this book has brown eyes. We learn the eye color of literally every character, no matter how minor, and they’re all green, green, or blue. No brown? Sure. And they’re all sparking, luminous, dazzling, etc. No lifeless dead eyes in this town?
I didn’t love the outdated terminology for sex work used by a character. This was a very fast paced, easy read, and I did enjoy it, even with all the little quibbles. There is an interesting revelation at about 80% which explained a lot of continuity problems. This isn’t for your hardcore thriller fans, but it’s a pleasant way to spend a few hours.
Thank you to @netgalley and @levelbestbooks for the advance copy. (Pub date 6/20/23)
June 15, 2023
The Water Tower by Amy Young #fortiethbookof2023 #arc
CW: death, murder, suicide, drug abuse and overdoses, teen pregnancy, statutory rape
Okay, so this book has an interesting premise: former actress moves home to her small town and becomes a teacher, and decides to investigate the murder of a student after she finds the body. It was a good story, but lots of little details annoyed me. First of all, extremely unreliable narrator alert!
Josie is hella naive for someone her age, and with her age and experience, she should be smarter and more considerate than she is. She has no issues with questioning people related to the murder before the police can do so. And the police don’t really seem to mind, and in fact, share details with her that she spreads all over town. She’s a careless person who isn’t very thoughtful, she doesn’t pay attention to literally anything but her own thoughts, and I didn’t really like her as a person.
I cannot tell you how extremely unlikely it is that not a single person in this book has brown eyes. We learn the eye color of literally every character, no matter how minor, and they’re all green, green, or blue. No brown? Sure. And they’re all sparking, luminous, dazzling, etc. No lifeless dead eyes in this town?
I didn’t love the outdated terminology for sex work used by a character. This was a very fast paced, easy read, and I did enjoy it, even with all the little quibbles. There is an interesting revelation at about 80% which explained a lot of continuity problems. This isn’t for your hardcore thriller fans, but it’s a pleasant way to spend a few hours.
Thank you to @netgalley and @levelbestbooks for the advance copy. (Pub date 6/20/23)
CW: death, murder, suicide, drug abuse and overdoses, teen pregnancy, statutory rape
Okay, so this book has an interesting premise: former actress moves home to her small town and becomes a teacher, and decides to investigate the murder of a student after she finds the body. It was a good story, but lots of little details annoyed me. First of all, extremely unreliable narrator alert!
Josie is hella naive for someone her age, and with her age and experience, she should be smarter and more considerate than she is. She has no issues with questioning people related to the murder before the police can do so. And the police don’t really seem to mind, and in fact, share details with her that she spreads all over town. She’s a careless person who isn’t very thoughtful, she doesn’t pay attention to literally anything but her own thoughts, and I didn’t really like her as a person.
I cannot tell you how extremely unlikely it is that not a single person in this book has brown eyes. We learn the eye color of literally every character, no matter how minor, and they’re all green, green, or blue. No brown? Sure. And they’re all sparking, luminous, dazzling, etc. No lifeless dead eyes in this town?
I didn’t love the outdated terminology for sex work used by a character. This was a very fast paced, easy read, and I did enjoy it, even with all the little quibbles. There is an interesting revelation at about 80% which explained a lot of continuity problems. This isn’t for your hardcore thriller fans, but it’s a pleasant way to spend a few hours.
Thank you to @netgalley and @levelbestbooks for the advance copy. (Pub date 6/20/23)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews