This was my first read from seasoned psychological thriller author Nadija Mujagic, and I finished it in less than a day. The writing is straightforward, the cast of characters is small, and there’s a good amount of domestic drama and suspense throughout—reminiscent of writing styles from Freida McFadden and Daniel Hurst—making it very easy to fly through. At just 290 pages, it’s also on the shorter side, and there are a lot of tropes: family secrets, manipulative mother-in-law, strained marriage, trust no one, hidden motives, and more!

This is a dual-POV story, mostly following Emily, but later shifting into Jack’s POV when buried truths surface. Right from the start, when Emily and Jack return home from their honeymoon to find Evelyn waiting outside, there’s a sense of unease between Jack and his mother that Emily notices but brushes off. As you’d expect, things quickly go wrong and escalate, and Emily is convinced Evelyn’s behind everything and wants her gone. There’s a LOT of tense dialogue between them that’ll entertain fans of domestic drama. But no one is innocent in this book, and soon hidden motives and secrets come to light for all three characters—so don’t expect to be overly sympathetic toward anyone.

You can definitely multitask if you’re listening on audio because it’s so easy to follow. Aside from Emily, Jack, and Evelyn, there are really only two secondary characters—Emily’s best friend, Jenna, and her coworker, Claire. Emily confides in both as the situation with Evelyn spirals, and their reactions are sometimes questionable enough to make you wonder whether they know more than they’re letting on.

The short chapters, many ending on mini-cliffhangers, help make it easy to keep turning pages. That said, Emily can be frustrating at times. Early on, it’s revealed that she has plans of her own, but her reactions and decision-making are uneven and sometimes completely unbelievable. One moment she’s convinced Evelyn is responsible for everything and is desperate to get her out of the house, then just a few scenes later she’s embracing getting to know her better as though nothing happened. The second half has red herrings and a few entertaining twists, but some plot points—especially what happens to Evelyn in the house—are over the top and almost soap-opera-like. If you like those vibes, you’ll have a good time. The ending delivers a satisfying dose of karmic justice, but I also found it bittersweet because there’s no real heroine or particularly likable character. This is a good choice for a vacation read or a commute listen since it’s so easy to follow and is designed to entertain rather than leave you thinking about it afterward. I’d definitely read more of Nadija Mujagic’s books to see whether her other thrillers are a little more intricate or if this is just her style.