My friend and I got on a bit of a B.A. Paris kick this fall. We read her first two books super quickly. They weren’t a series or anything, just freaky books written by the same author. This is the third one that we read. I think I liked the other two more, but this one was still really good.
We start this story with a flashback. Finn and Layla are on vacation, and they’re driving home. Finn goes to the bathroom at a rest stop, and when he gets back to the car, Layla’s gone. The police search for her and never find her or her body.
Flash forward 10 years (I think it was 10 years). Finn has moved on with his life. He’s now dating Layla’s sister Ellen and they’re engaged. Ellen seems really subdued and basically bends to Finn’s will whenever he has an issue. She’s quiet and guarded and very amenable to everything.
One day Finn gets a phone call that someone has seen Layla. He can’t believe it that she could possibly still be alive. He thinks that she would’ve come back to him if she was still around. Then he’s in a cat and mouse game over email. “Layla” is basically blackmailing him to tell Ellen that she’s back.
Most of this book you’re not sure if “Layla” is real, and the other parts you’re wondering what’s up with Ellen. Finn just kinda floats along and does whatever he wants. I kinda figured out what was really going on a little bit before it was revealed. This book is definitely worth a read. I’d give it 3.5 stars.