With shades of E. Lockhartâs We Were Liars and Courtney Summersâs Sadie, this dark and twisted mystery set in a divided Maine seaside town simmers with unresolved tensions and unpredictable truths.
Everyone in Tenneyâs Harbor knows about the Garrison tragedy. How an unexplained fire ravaged their house, killing four of the five family members. But what people donât know is who did it.
All fingers point at Pearl Haskinsâ father, who was the caretaker of the property, but Pearl just doesnât believe it. Leave it to a town of rich people to blame âthe help.â
With her disgraced father now trying to find work in between booze benders, Pearlâs future doesnât hold much more than waiting tables at the local country club, where the wealthy come to flaunt their money and spread their gossip. This year, Tristan, the last surviving Garrison, and his group of affluent and arrogant friends have made a point of sitting in Pearlâs section. Though sheâs repulsed by most of them, Tristanâs quiet sadness and somber demeanor have her rethinking her judgments.
Befriending the boys could mean getting closer to the truth, clearing her fatherâs name, and giving Tristan the closure he seems to be searching for. But it could also trap Pearl in a sinister web of secrets, lies, and betrayals that would leave no life unchangedâŠif it doesnât take hers first.