If there’s one thing Kara Thomas excels at, it is creating an atmosphere. Having grown up in a small town myself, there was so much about the setting of this book that felt familiar. There was an “underbelly” feel to the town, the side that visitors rarely see. It was gritty and seedy, rife with small-town claustrophobia. The writing truly made it come to life, creating a sense of uncomfortability and bleakness that just added to the feel of the story.
The author is so good at creating complex, deep characters that are both imperfect and sympathetic. The web of dark family secrets, soliving the mystery of their deaths, made for an engrossing story. It was dark, very dark, but in a way that felt very authentic.
A side note… this title felt so appropo. The character of Sam truly felt like a phoenix, rising out of the ashes. Well played!