The past decade of crime fiction has been remarkable for the huge number of novels… featuring women... Some have been excellent, but most have been indistinguishable... Critics have spent much time searching for well-written, original examples. Sarah Pinborough passes the test. She… is adept at conjuring the unexpected. Times (London)

Bree and Mike definitely have something together, but I enjoyed that its still a tiny flame at this point. They are in the middle of an emotional case and grieving. They didn't trust each other's motives at first or methods. The author wisely didn't try to force the attraction, but will let it unwind over the course of the series. A masterpiece of suspense...A rare joy...Creates a sense of disorientation and dread that is highly satisfying. But it is with the plot, so tight and yet also intricate, that Pinborough shines. No detail or character is extraneous. Booklist (starred review) on Behind Her Eyes

Like her earlier books, the investigation is not a plot in isolation. There are surrounding layers. Justin's drug addiction, family grief, past family tragedy, conspiracy in the sheriff's department, threat of a custody battle, and adjustment to new reality. Lisa is one of three strong female characters hiding their devastating secrets from the world in this story. Her daughter Ava has her own issues to deal with including an overprotective mother, exams and pressure from her friends to move her relationship with her boyfriend to the next level. Then we also have Marilyn, Lisa's best friend who's perfect life isn't the idyllic picture she paints on a daily basis. I adored all three of these characters. As Pinborough tantalisingly revealed their secrets and dropped another bombshell on her reader, how much I liked them varied quite dramatically - and I found that utterly fascinating. Justin’s best friend Matt Flynn, a former sheriff’s deputy and K-9 officer, isn’t too sure of Justin’s guilt and teams with Bree to determine the guilt or innocence of Justin.

Honestly, I could not put this book down and read it in a day. It is captivating; the writing flows easily and I enjoyed reading every word without feeling the need to skip ahead, although at times I wanted to to see the next reveal! The plot is seamless; I loved that there were a few red herrings which were used tastefully and the ways it all threaded between each of their lives to stitch them together in a neat sequence made this a fun thriller to read. The story questions stereotypes of poverty and extreme abuse versus stability, normality and relative prosperity.

Justin's best friend, Matt Flynn, was once a sheriff's investigator. An on-the-job shooting left him unable to continue and is now a K-9 handler. As in most first stories in a series, there was the buildup of Bree, her family and friends. It was interesting to see how this extremely dysfunctional family had survived to find any normalcy in life.