The Necklace – ARC Book Review

The clock ticks down in a heart-pounding crusade for justice

Susan Lentigo’s daughter was murdered twenty years ago—and now, at long last, this small-town waitress sets out on a road trip all the way from Upstate New York to North Dakota to witness the killer’s execution.

On her journey she discovers shocking new evidence that leads her to suspect the condemned man is innocent—and the real killer is still free. Even worse, her prime suspect has a young daughter who’s at terrible risk. With no money and no time to spare, Susan sets out to uncover the truth before an innocent man gets executed and another little girl is killed.

But the FBI refuses to reopen the case. They—and Susan’s own mother—believe she’s just having an emotional breakdown. Reaching deep, Susan finds an inner strength she never knew she had. With the help of two unlikely allies—a cynical, defiant teenage girl and the retired cop who made the original arrest—Susan battles the FBI to put the real killer behind bars. Will she win justice for the condemned man—and her daughter—at last?

No. of pages:- 304 pages

Publisher:- Oceanview Publishing

Date published:- will be published on September 7th 2021

Genre:- Psychological Thriller

Rating:- 4/5 stars

Here’s the thing–I did not expect this book to be really good.

A courageous heroine who after twenty years set on a journey from upstate New York to North Dakota to witness the death sentence of the man who killed her daughter some twenty years ago. However, on the journey, she finds a circumstantial evidence that seemed that the man who supposedly raped and murdered her daughter and who is behind the bars might be innocent and her daughter’s real killer might be still out. But none of them, the FBI agents and even her own mother wouldn’t believe her thinking she was still being emotional and delusional. But Susan is determined to prevent this innocent man from getting the death sentence and put the real man who is responsible behind the bars.

To me, this was somewhat an emotional read. Susan Lentigo seems to be a favorable and courageous character who would do anything to her daughter and so the character grew into me. The story is written in time span–from Present Day when Susan sets the journey to North Dakota to twenty yers ago that led her daughter Amy being murdered. The writing was flawless and engaging and the author did a good job drawing the reader to the story. I was so hooked into the book that I stayed up all night reading this book! The fact that the story is written in a realistic way that these things could happen in real life, where an innocent man could be sentenced to jail is too shocking and emotional to me. I heard this book might be made into a movie so looking forward for the movie as well.

Overall, this book is a heartbreaking, emotional read and quite unputdownable. Worth four stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

Matt Witten, a graduate of Amherst and Brandeis Universities, is a TV writer, novelist, playwright and screenwriter. His television writing includes such shows as House, Pretty Little Liars, and Law & Order. His TV scripts have been nominated for an Emmy and two Edgars, and he has written four mystery novels, winning a Malice Domestic award for best debut novel. He has also written stage plays and for national magazines.

The Necklace has been optioned for film by Appian Way and Cartel Pictures, with Leonardo DiCaprio attached as producer.