My Review…

A  mystery that unravels slowly,  involving a stunning French girl-Severine. Though the pace is slower, it does allow you to “get to know” the 6 friends who will ultimately all become suspects in Severine’s murder. In the beginning I was having some difficulty figuring out which friend was telling the story. I think it would have been great to have one of the other friends point of view as well ! I was able to work through this and enjoy the book, so don’t give up if you decide to read it.

A detective re-opens a 10 year-old case involving the missing girl, Severine, after her body is discovered in a well near a farmhouse in France. The group of 6 friends were all on holiday at the time and were the last ones to see her alive. They will be questioned many times by the inspector

Gossip and rumor threaten to hurt careers, businesses and friendships as the friends begin to suspect each other and emotions run high. Could it have been an accident? Was it intentional? Did jealousy play a role?

I really enjoyed the “paranomal” aspect that one of the friends was experiencing, but I would have liked that to be explained/explored more (it had me wondering about Kate and if she was a “little off”)LOL. I’m not sure if it was meant to be humorous, but too me it was! I also enjoyed the spark of romance between two of the characters, but you’ll have to read it to find out.

In the end, I would recommend as a light mystery with a bit of a french twist! Fans of cozies, French settings, longtime friendships should really enjoy! I am looking forward to Lexie Elliot’s next novel and will be in line for it!

Thank you kindly to Berkley publishing for my copy!

Book Description…

They were six university students from Oxford–friends and sometimes more than friends–spending an idyllic week together in a French farmhouse. It was supposed to be the perfect summer getaway–until they met Severine, the girl next door.

For Kate Channing, Severine was an unwelcome presence, her inscrutable beauty undermining the close-knit group’s loyalties amid the already simmering tensions. And after a huge altercation on the last night of the holiday, Kate knew nothing would ever be the same. There are some things you can’t forgive, and there are some people you can’t forget, like Severine, who was never seen again.

Now, a decade later, the case is reopened when Severine’s body is found in the well behind the farmhouse. Questioned along with her friends, Kate stands to lose everything she’s worked so hard to achieve as suspicion mounts around her. Desperate to resolve her own shifting memories and fearful she will be forever bound to the woman whose presence still haunts her, Kate finds herself buried under layers of deception with no one to set her free.