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If you're going to get the best out of this book (and it's definitely there to be got) then you'll need to be in the wide-awake club. The events that determined what would happen in 2025 occurred fifteen years ago when many of the characters were in their late teens. Frankie, as she was known then, befriended Alison, a visitor to the local caravan park. It was a convenient relationship for Frankie as she could control Alison - or ‘Sparrow' as she called her.
As always, Lucy Foley is clever. The narrative switches back and forth over the fifteen years as we're drip-fed information. Sometimes you need to establish the truth for yourself. Foley is trusting like that: she builds convincing characters and knows that we'll get the measure of them without explanations from her. As I gathered information together, I wondered if there were just too many coincidences: would people ‘''really'' find themselves gathered together accidentally all those years later? I needn't have worried: all is revealed in the very satisfying ending.
The publishers categorise this book as ‘contemporary horror'. I don't normally read horror: there's enough of it in the world at the moment without looking for more, but this book appealed to me. The horror was there - but it was never unpleasant or gratuitous. It was simply part of a good story.