Barbara’s rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone
Publication Date: 3/11/21
Number of Pages: 215

Bella Black isn’t searching for a new job or a new location, but it seems one has found her. Bella’s life could certainly use some shaking up, especially with her divorce from Mark in the process. When the new company, Acorn Consulting, makes her an incredible job offer, it doesn’t take much convincing for her to accept. She’ll miss all of her friends in London, but the idea of living in a small village is appealing.

The small village is welcoming and the neighbors are – well – neighborly. But there is that one strange, eccentric woman, Maggie Thatcher, who keeps turning up at Bella’s door to give her a welcome gift – then taking it back. Bella’s job is great and her work colleagues are competent and friendly. As Bella learns more about the company, and its charitable arm, OAK, she begins to think something is just a bit off-kilter.

People have disappeared, and Bella has come into possession of something that might point to wrong-doing. She can’t make heads or tails of it herself, but she has no idea who she can trust to help her figure it out. Everyone seems very convincing, but they can’t all be telling the truth.

This was the author’s debut book and she came up with a really interesting idea for a storyline. For me, however, it just fell flat. The characters were cardboard and I never managed to relate to any of them – except Maggie Thatcher – now she was funny and I liked her. The scenes that should have been exciting and on-the-edge-of-your-chair were more like reading a newspaper account – just dry and straightforward.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.