Phoebe Locke
A film crew is shadowing troubled teen Amber Banner following her acquittal in a murder trial. Over the course of the book, and over three timelines, we learn about her family, and their connection to the Tall Man (an urban legend in the mould of the Slender Man).
Amber’s motives and actions become clearer as the story and her dysfunctional family history develop, but the constant jumping around is wearing. At times the writing is repetitive, and the actions of some of the characters are ludicrous. This novel is Phoebe Locke’s debut, so perhaps it would have been a better had in been in the hands of a writer with more experience.
I really wanted to love this thriller (it’s not a horror, by any means) – the idea is sound, most of the characters are well-rounded and relatable, and it’s written well enough to pull the reader in. My main issue is with the timeline-hopping, which works seamlessly sometimes, and is totally jarring at others.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Book Dragon 