Quercus | 11 April 2023 | 352 pgs
Source: Library
Ten years ago, two vans crashed into a ravine killing two teachers and several high school students. Nine students survived the crash. All of them weren't really friends but the tragedy has kind of bonded them together. Then a year later, one of them, Clara, committed suicide and thereafter the remaining eight survivors decided to meet annually at a beach house called "The Shallows" to commemorate the anniversary of the accident as well as a promise to look out for one another and make sure that what really happened that fateful night isn't disclose to anyone.
Cassidy, our narrator in this book, decides to move on from that tragedy after a decade and has gradually removed their contacts until she receives a text from an unknown number informing her that Ian, another of the survivor, died. Cassidy has no choice but to join the reunion since she wants to know what happened to him, considering he was the closest friend among the others. But the reunion feels a little off as if someone was watching them, and then another disappeared. Cassidy begins to fear that something darker than survivors' guilt has bound them together and wonder if there's someone outside who wants the truth. Could there be more secrets among the remaining survivors and could she trust any of them?
The story alternates between the present and the past, featuring Cassidy's POV in the present and varying voices from the past. I enjoyed reading the past more partly because it was more intense and action-packed, while Cassidy's narrative was a bit erratic due to her emotions and her reactions towards various circumstances. The pace of the story moved slowly and nothing much happened and it only speed up towards the end as the past unravel. While the story has a foreboding atmosphere and there's even a twist towards the end, I felt the setup was far too long for the revelation which I find a bit disappointing. That said, I liked the way how the author created the claustrophobic setting within The Shallows and the group’s dynamic so I'll still be interested to check out her future releases.
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I'm getting a little tired of thrillers that do that dual past/present timeline, because one usually ends up being so much better than the other.
Lark - Dual timelines are good as long as both are equally engaging and there's a balance with the suspense element. I think this style must be popular with the suspense thriller genre because many of them read like this, lol.
As much as I like dual time line novels, I agree with you, Melody, about needing balance between the two. It's common for me to like one thread of the timeline over the other, but if they both aren't equal or engaging, the book definitely suffers for it.
Wendy - I'm glad we share the same thoughts, Wendy. :)
I've heard other readers say that the pacing of this one is slow too. The premise is intriguing though. My favorite book of hers is All the Missing Girls. It was so unique! The rest that I've read by her have been just ok.
Diana - It has an intriguing premise; if only the pace was a bit faster. Sigh. I'll have to check out "All the Missing Girls".
I've read one of her other books and remember thinking it had some strong points but overall was also just ok. I think the premise of this one sounds quite interesting but for a thriller, I expect quite a bit of intensity and more thrills along the way!
Iliana - It'd a good premise; just wished that the intensity was much more and a few likeable characters.