Megan Abbott can write. There’s this part where Abbott is describing Katie describing Gwen Weaver, and it goes:
Every conversation, she dropped in a half dozen tiny bombs. You only realized after, when the ticking grew louder.
That’s what Abbott does this whole book. Great subtle work here, layers and layers to things, everyone has their reasons, no one can cast the first stone. Even a tree in the yard or a sore throat and a cough is a ticking timebomb. I don’t know how Abbott does it, but I want to take her apart to find out how she works.