Eadie B. (eadieburke) - , reviewed on 2/10/2017 + 1620 more book reviews

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

This book is an atmospheric thriller about six college students who visit the dilapidated ruins of Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary in August 1980 and before the night is over one of them is missing. This event will haunt their lives until 2015 when remains are finally found. One of them will be charged with murder while the one who can testify to his innocence is protecting secrets of her own which will sacrifice her present situation if she comes forward to testify. This novel explores the meanings of identity, loyalty, love and shows how people are more deserving of forgiveness than judgment. We are given a chance throughout to analysis the characters and how the disappearance of one of their friends has affected them.

I found the characters to be well-drawn and very interesting. The plot is one that hooks you from the beginning and doesn't let go until the last page is turned. There are lots of twists, turns and emotions flowing throughout. The timeline switches between 1980 and 2015 and the author does this very well. I was born and grew up in Philadelphia so I enjoyed the many references to buildings, area descriptions, happenings, art, literature and music from the 1980's and the present.

I now look forward to reading more from this author and would highly recommend this book to those who liked The Secret History by Donna Tartt.

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