ALA Booklist (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

This complex and layered mystery begins its twisty ride when a small Chicago suburb is rocked by the kidnapping of Rachel Bachton. The trail eventually goes cold, but 12 years later, 16-year-old Josh still feels a connection with the girl who reminds him of his younger twin sisters. And then a mysterious newcomer arrives: Chatham Claiborne, who's searching for her own missing sister, and despite the obvious secrets buried under her skin, Josh is nevertheless drawn to her. While the pace is speedy, Dawn (Oblivion, 2014) still manages to add plenty of emotional depth to the story, folding in Josh's relationship with his mother and her abusive ex-husband and the process of Chatham slowly dropping her elusive nature. While the well-plotted mystery is engrossing, Chatham's tightly held past and cagey nature might make it difficult for some readers to connect to the story. Still, the gritty realism and attention-grabbing opening will hook fans of suspenseful thrillers all the way to its satisfying conclusion.

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Despite being up to his neck in responsibility--taking care of his two sisters and fending off an abusive stepfather--Josh instantly falls for mysterious newcomer Chatham Claiborne. Chatham's past is murky, and she may have a connection to a local kidnapping twelve years ago. The immediate threat from Josh's stepfather keeps tension running high as readers try to untangle the twisted clues to the central mystery.

Kirkus Reviews

Twelve years on, Rachel Bachton's abduction still haunts everyone in Sugar Creek—especially the new girl in town.While at the beach watching his 4-year-old twin sisters (who are the same age Rachel was when someone kidnapped her), Josh Michaels meets newcomer Chatham Claiborne. Besides the instant physical attraction, the teens, both presumably white, also connect because of their broken home lives. Chatham ran away from her foster parents in Georgia to this small town outside of Chicago, hoping to track down her foster sister, who thinks she remembers details of Rachel's disappearance. Josh tries to help Chatham but is often sidetracked by his single mother's manipulation and ex-stepfather's domestic abuse. As the two storylines converge, the thriller occasionally waxes (when the teens piece together their own clues) but often wanes (due to repetition as well as unbelievable and confusing details). The real strength of the book emerges through Josh's coming-of-age, as more attention is given to his growing independence, relationship with his mother, and sexual awakening. When Chatham begins to recall her own memories of Rachel's fateful final day, the thriller kicks into overdrive with a rushed, yet tidy, conclusion to the mystery.Though weaker as a thriller, Josh's narrative may appeal to readers trying to understand societal roles for men, especially in the context of domestic abuse. (Thriller. 14-18)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In this engaging mystery from Dawn (Splinter), 16-year-old Josh Michaels has a lot on his plate. As he cares for his four-year-old twin sisters while their mother works long hours, and watches his mom make bad decisions with her abusive ex-husband, Josh struggles to balance his home life with school and dreams of a football scholarship. When the beautiful, elusive Chatham Claiborne appears on a beach in his tiny Chicago suburb, Josh is immediately drawn to her and soon finds himself pulled into her story about a runaway sister, abusive foster parents, and a mysterious bag of cash. But after a child-s body is found, parts of Chatham-s tale start to ring false. Could she be connected to a girl who went missing years earlier? Although a plot link involving Josh-s mother-s ex strains credibility, Josh is a likable character whose drama-filled family is heartbreaking and otherwise realistic. The mystery surrounding Chatham provides intriguing and unexpected plot developments, and teen readers will find much to relate to and enjoy here. Ages 13-18. Agent: Andrea Somberg, Harvey Klinger. (May)