"Teen-aged Internet bully Ivy Lake fell off a cliff and few people cared... except her mentally-challenged eighteen-year-old step-brother, Tommy. He loved her in spite of her cruelty. He's distraught and doesn't understand why his blended family is falling apart. After a year, the police still have no answers: Ivy could have jumped, could have been pushed, or it could have been an accident. With too many suspects and not enough evidence, the investigation has grown cold. Tommy thinks that if someone can figure out what happened to his step-sister, everything will go back to normal, so he writes to investigative reporter Maxine Revere. This isn't the type of case Max normally takes on, but the heartbreak and simple honesty in Tommy's letter pulls her in. She travels to Corte Madera, California, with her assistant David Kane and is at first pleased that the police are cooperative. But the more Max learns about Tommy and his dysfunctional family, the more she thinks she's taken on an impossible task: this may be the one case she can't solve. If Ivy was murdered, it was exceptionally well-planned and that kind of killer could be hiding in plain sight... planning the next act of violence. Max believes the truth is always better than lies, that the truth is the only thing that matters to gain justice for victims and their families. But for the first time, she wonders if this time, the truth will kill"--
"Romantic suspense bestseller Allison Brennan returns with her next riveting thriller featuring investigative reporter Max Revere"--
This was fantastic. I loved Austin and Tommy and Emma (although we don't see much of her). The mystery was interesting and I didn't remotely guess the murderer. I felt sorry for Austin and Tommy who are dealt a bad lot in life. Particularly with Austin's mother forbidding Tommy to come to the house or see Austin. Austin's so encouraging of Tommy though and I really liked the way he and Max both talked to and with Tommy and how they treated him as more than his mental handicap. Max was still her hardass self determined to reveal the truth but she was further developed in this case - she's starting to learn it might not always be better for everyone to have the truth revealed. I mean she still reveals it but when she discovers Tommy sleepwalks, she has second thoughts about how it may come across. And I like that she's more compassionate and empathetic in this case. The issue and implications of social media and cyberbullying are also examined within this novel. I really liked the following quote.
Civil society requires civility. It requires individuals to consider the repercussions of their words as well as their actions. Today I fear people—not just teenagers, who did not exhibit self-control even in my day—rarely consider the repercussions of anything they do or say.”
Overall this was a fantastic book. 4.5 stars. It only lost half a star because the moaning about Max's relationship annoys me. The thing is I love Max but I also hate her at least half the time. I mean the whole thing with David and Nick's kids and them not wanting to badmouth their partner is admirable. But Max is all the truth is only ever good. I'm firmly on the boys' side of the argument - parents should be parents first and foremost - as in, it's about the kid and what's best for them - not about the fact your husband or wife is a cheating bastard. The fact that David and Nick jump through hoops to see their kids is horrible. The women should feel ashamed of themselves. Every kid should have access to both parents as they desire. But the fact that David and Nick are both willing to comply with every demand so as to see their kid is commendable. And it's wrong of Max to criticise it. She can hate the women too - but she should leave the men alone because it's not their fault.
