Not What She Seems by Yasmin Angoe

Item: Not What She Seems
Rating: 5
Author: BaronessMom

Posted August 6, 2024 by BaronessMom in Mystery, Review / 0 Comments

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Not What She Seems

by Yasmin Angoe

Published by Thomas & Mercer on August 1, 2024
Setting: Brook Haven, South Carolina
Genres: Psychological Thrillers
Pages: 390
Format: Audible Audiobook, Hardcover, Kindle, Paperback
Source: the Publisher
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon

She left home as the local pariah at twenty-two, but when a family tragedy brings her back, she must confront her tortured past—and a new danger in town that no one seems to understand but her.

After years of self-exile, Jacinda “Jac” Brodie is back in Brook Haven, South Carolina. But the small cliffside town no longer feels like home. Jac hasn’t been there since the beloved chief of police fell to his death—and all the whispers said she was to blame.

That chief was Jac’s father.

Racked with guilt, Jac left town with no plans to return. But when her granddad lands in the hospital, she rushes back to her family, bracing herself to confront the past.
Brook Haven feels different now. Wealthy newcomer Faye Arden has transformed the notorious Moor Manor into a quaint country inn. Jac’s convinced something sinister lurks beneath Faye’s perfect exterior, yet the whole town fawns over their charismatic new benefactor. And when Jac discovers one of her granddad’s prized possessions in Faye’s office, she knows she has to be right.

But as Jac continues to dig, she stumbles upon dangerous truths that hit too close to home. With not only her life but also her family’s safety on the line, Jac discovers that maybe some secrets are better left buried.

Not What She Seems by Yasmin Angoe is an amazing story about women overcoming their backgrounds.

Will Jac find her way out of this current mess?

Jacinda Brodie

Jac is our main character and point of view. Although she seems like a villain or maybe a victim, she is really a strong woman. Jac has lost so much in her life, but she is resilient and will move forward. Returning home is powerful and helps her get over her grief, although the town and her more recent past keep rearing up to interrupt her healing.

I like Jac. She had me rooting for her from the beginning. I knew she was strong, but she exceeded my expectations. Her growth throughout the book is fantastic.

The Mystery

Jac’s Grandfather taught her to investigate, but I think both of them underestimated their opponent, and it cost them so much. Jac and her grandfather had a group or forum online to help them called the armchair detectives. I thought that was a marvelous idea and a great way for her grandad to keep his wits about him.

The author creates a ton of thrilling events that keep moving us toward the multiple plot twists and side cases that Jac deals with during her plight to find her grandfather’s killer. I couldn’t put it down, and when I did, Jac and her investigation kept returning to my mind without fail.

Five Stars

My rating for Not What She Seems by Yasmin Angoe is five stars. This story reminds us that everyone has secrets and that we don’t know even the closest people to us like we think we do. I truly enjoyed this thriller and highly recommend it.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Not What She Seems by Yasmin Angoe.

Until the next time,

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About Yasmin Angoe

Hailing from Northern Virginia, Yasmin Angoe is a first-generation Ghanaian American who grew up in two cultural worlds. She taught English in middle and high schools for years, served as an instructional coach for virtual teachers, and works as a freelance developmental and copy editor. Yasmin received the 2020 Eleanor Taylor Bland Award for Emerging Writers of Color from Sisters in Crime, of which she’s a proud member. She lives in South Carolina with her beautiful, blended family.

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