Starred review from May 1, 2021
It's not just the sweltering weather that's red-hot in Texas. Sophie and her husband Graham and cherubic son Jack have relocated from Chicago to the sleepy town of Mapleton, TX, to enjoy a simpler, slower lifestyle. Sophie, a successful blogger, thought that gardening and cooking perfect meals would be enough for her, but boredom and loneliness strain this idyllic life. When she catches the eye of sultry socialite Margot Banks and her coterie of rich and naughty friends, Sophie is captivated. Soon, she is invited to their secret club; soon, she is obsessed. At a remote lake house getaway, whiskey is poured generously, and the women shoot skeet. Eager to be included, and fascinated by their sexually suggestive play, Sophie can't resist the allure of these women, nor the seductive young men who appear in the wee hours. When teenager Abby Wilson is found in the lake, having been murdered, Sophie is under the penetrating gaze of the law. She has everything to lose. VERDICT Cobb (Big Woods) writes a clever twisty plot in this alcohol-infused, sexually charged thriller. Gossipy, scandalous housewives behaving badly might make this the juiciest read of the season. For fans of Liane Moriarty.--Gloria Drake, Oswego P.L. Dist., IL
Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.