[Review] Everything We Didn't Say - Nicole Baart

Summary: Juniper Baker had just graduated from high school and was deep in the throes of a summer romance when Cal and Beth Murphy, a childless couple who lived on a neighboring farm, were brutally murdered. When her younger brother became the prime suspect, June’s world collapsed and everything she loved that summer fell away. She left, promising never to return to tiny Jericho, Iowa.

Until now. Officially, she’s back in town to help an ill friend manage the local library. But really, she’s returned to repair her relationship with her teenage daughter, who’s been raised by Juniper’s mother and stepfather since birth—and to solve the infamous Murphy murders once and for all. She knows the key to both lies in the darkest secret of that long-ago summer night, one that’s haunted her for nearly fifteen years.

As history begins to repeat itself and a dogged local true crime podcaster starts delving into the murders, the race to the truth puts past and present on a dangerous collision course. Juniper lands back in an all-too-familiar place with the answers to everything finally in her sights, but this time it’s her daughter’s life that hangs in the balance. Will revealing what really happened mean a fresh start? Or will the truth destroy everything Juniper loves for a second time? Baart once again brilliantly weaves mystery into family drama in this expertly-crafted novel for fans of Lisa Jewell and Megan Miranda. (Pub Date: Dec 01 2021)

 

Juniper is back to her old town from which she was stranded when many years ago a double murder happened and her best friend and little brother was the main suspect. Although her brother was never convicted, he never told her anything, and it was like the whole town was sure of his blame, and a podcaster now says they'll finally prove it. Can Juniper join the pieces of the puzzle to find out everything she never wanted to know about that night?

3.5 rounded up to 4.

I frankly remember too little of the other book by this same author, but from the rating I gave, it's a good thing. I'm sure I enjoyed this one better. It's a psychological thriller with a heavy foot on family drama—as one can guess from the summary. 

The narration has two moments: first person by teenage June who's about to finally leave town for college and is now enjoying her last summer, but also feels the distance from her beloved brother; and third person but focusing on adult Juniper's return to Jericho and having to deal with her estranged family, as well as with the possibility of an unknown podcaster condemning her brother, when he's unable to defend himself.

It was an easy read. Though there was lots of drama mingled with the mystery, it wasn't tiresome. I did guess a good part of the big twist before the end but I can't say everything was predictable, so it did a good job on the mystery side. There isn't much action, Juniper's investigations are mostly her talking with people, but there were some scenes that truly made me breathless. This book is very well filled. 

It's also true there's a good chance I'll forget it in a year or two, like I did her previous. It's not that different a plot and albeit the good twists they weren't 'freaking awesome'. It's a nice thriller, one I'll recommend to the lovers of the genre and also to those who like reading about family drama. It was a good mix.

Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.

Rating: 4 out of 5.