The Shallows (by Holly Craig)
I was fortunate enough to choose The Shallows by Holly Craig as an Amazon First Reads when it was released in 2023. I wish I had read it earlier because it’s an exceptionally well-written book! The story is primarily set on a secluded Australian island, making it an ideal beach read.
Emma and Ariella, neighbors in a wealthy neighborhood, appear to have everything money can buy. However, each conceals a secret about their husbands that could expose serious cracks in their seemingly perfect lives. As these secrets are about to be revealed, Ariella is murdered. Emma’s daughter, unknowingly, films the murder and uploads the video to the internet.
Charles, Emma’s husband, forces the family to flee via their luxury yacht. Little does Emma know that Charles has his own dangerous secrets. Now, Emma and her children are trapped on a secluded island, unsure of their location or the reason behind their hiding. All she knows is that danger lurks, and they are not safe.
The Shallows is comprised of short, suspenseful chapters that alternate between the past and present, keeping me engaged and eagerly turning the pages. Since I usually read on my Kindle before bed, I often stayed up much later than planned, reluctant to put the book down. Holly’s characters were likable and easy to empathize with, although I kept a skeptical eye on some of the secondary characters. Reading a lot of thrillers has taught me that you never know who to trust. As the story drew to a close, so did its intensity. By the time I finished, I felt tense and had developed a mild stress headache—a testament to Holly’s ability to create characters that I genuinely cared about.
The Shallows is an excellent suspenseful thriller. After finishing it, I immediately added Holly’s next book, The Rip, to my Audible library. I intend to read everything Holly Craig publishes.
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