In the past 2 decades, 7 people have gone missing from Cutter’s Pass. So, when the brother of the journalist, who recently disappeared, arrives at The Passage Inn, Abby Lovett, the manager, finds herself having to tread carefully.
The townsfolk do not want another disappearance on their conscience, nor do they welcome strangers digging into the town’s secrets.
The main reason I was drawn to this book was because of the setting. The Passage Inn is a resort that is surrounded by mountains and has a history of unresolved disappearances. It is somewhat isolated.
Moreover, the town of Cutter’s Pass has a reputation of being the most dangerous place in North Carolina. All of this made for a fantastic premise.
The author uses the location to create an ambience that is both haunting and riveting.
I don’t think I’ve read any mystery novel by Megan Miranda before. The writing is heavy on exposition and can be slow-paced at times. I also felt that certain scenes are narrated in a clinical tone, which I liked.
You are watching the story unfold from Abby’s perspective; being an elemental player on the chessboard, she has access to a lot of information that the author keeps dropping hints about.
I enjoy reading books where protagonists become self-appointed sleuths and get into the core of the mystery. But here, Abby’s investigations come across a bit like a late reaction.
Sure, there’s a new customer at the inn, he has messed up the status quo, which propels her into action. I can understand all of that. It’s just that something about it didn’t quite fit.
A lot of the crucial plot developments occur much later in the book. Once I got to know how several of the characters are relevant to the plot, things became far more exciting and I was more invested in the book.
I can think of 2-3 scenes that are brilliantly written in terms of giving you a proper thriller-mystery novel reading experience. I wish that essence was present throughout.
None of the characters is particularly memorable. They serve their purpose. The only thing that irked me is not having a better understanding of Georgia’s motivations. Because of that I still had some unanswered questions at the end.
You might be able to predict the revelation. For starters, there are layers to it – some based on facts that have already been revealed, some that are new developments.
On the whole, it was an okay read. If you are keen to read it, try the audiobook. That might help make it more engaging.
Note – I received an ALC of this book from Libro.fm in exchange for an honest review.
The Life Stories 