To prove a crime hasn’t been committed, but at what cost?

Synopsis

My name is Amber Ryan.
I’m in prison, but I’m innocent.
And I’ve been jailed not just for a crime I didn’t commit, but for a crime that never even happened.
Now, my friend is going to try to prove it.
But to do that, she has to go back.
Back to the dark.

My review

Heather and Amber used to be best friends, until they weren’t anymore. And now Amber is in prison for a hideous crime.
When approached by Felicity and her brother Nathan, Heather finds it hard to believe that the siblings truly believe that Amber is innocent, and even worse, the crime in fact never took place. But as the victim is Jack Shannon, Heather’s ex – boyfriend, she knows that with him, anything is possible. And in order to gain evidence, Heather has no other option to him and the dark world around him. Heater is adamant to uncover the truth, but at what cost will that eventually be?

When I started to read this book, I was very curious to discover what Amber actually did and how it would be possible that there was no actual crime committed. Because I think we all go in the same direction thinking about why anyone would get a life sentence.

And perhaps that was what didn’t feel 100% right in this book, as the sentence felt too severe for the committed crime. But it also gave you already an idea of the possible scheme and deception that took place.

It saddened me to read at the start of this book how these two close friends fell out over a man, and having history repeating itself once again when attempts were made to restore that friendship.
On one hand I could understand Amber, for wanting to protect her relationship, but on the other hand, I could also understand Heather, as she wanted to warn and protect her friend.

I have to say, the way Heather was approached by Felicity was so dodgy, I don’t know if I would meet up with her if I were Heather. And the made claims for sure seemed a bit weird, even if Heather knows that there is something wrong with Jack Shannon.
But it’s one thing finding your ex weird, it’s a complete different story when someone tells you that he could be an actual criminal.

Yet I admired Heather’s courage, as she wanted to help out her old friend and her new friends, even if she knows that it will cost her a lot. Because let me make one thing very clear: Jack Shannon makes me raise several red flags, and I am not only talking about him living at nighttime!

I don’t know how Heather manages to keep the pretence going, as I for sure couldn’t! But we also see how Jack is able to manipulate, play and even mould Heather in the way he wants.
This man gave me goosebumps from the very first appearance until the ultimate last one.

In this whole book, I was afraid for Heather, as I knew that something would happen. But when? How? And who could she truly trust? And won’t she loose herself while trying to set her friend free?
I constantly had an uneasy feeling, and with several twists and turns in it, that feeling never left me…

And yes, even if some twists seemed a tiny bit farfetched, and Heather at moments for sure may count herself lucky in having such allies, the story got me sitting on the edge of my seat. I didn’t want to read further out of fear, but I also felt I needed to continue reading, to put my mind and my heart at ease!