Dead of Summer

 Jessa Maxwell

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Mystery Thriller

This novel is the second book I've read by Jessa Maxwell. The first was her debut novel, The Golden Spoon, a 5-star book for me. Obviously, I had very high expectations of this mystery thriller, as I loved everything about the author’s debut novel.

The story takes place on a secluded island in New England and follows a set of characters. There is Orla O’Connor, who is returning to the island after a very long time, and this return brings back many buried memories of her best friend’s mysterious disappearance when they were teenagers. 

Then there is David, who is also bringing his girlfriend, Faith, to introduce her to his family. Faith, being fascinated with the island, will start digging into its past and the secrets that are buried about it. Henry is another character that we follow his perspective. He was once considered a suspect in Alice's disappearance. And now, since Orla is back, he feels completely unsettled about her presence. 

The book has an atmospheric setting, no doubt about that. The isolated island feels eerie at times, which completely suits the main theme. The story shifts between multiple perspectives, giving the readers a better understanding of each character’s behavior and motives. 

The twists and turns were enjoyable for the most part. Yes, some were predictable, but that happens, and it is OK. I think character development would have benefited from some more depth. Overall, the story is a decent mystery thriller that you might enjoy reading, but don’t expect it to be a groundbreaking one. 

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.