This was the first pick of 2024 for Reese’s Book Club and also one of my January selections in my BOTM box. The premise definitely intrigued me. I love a good undercover spy/assassin thriller – especially if it’s like the TV show “Alias” with a strong female lead. While I found the overall plot to be engaging and the unraveling of the mystery to be satisfying, I must admit that I wasn’t completely blown away by it.

In this book, “Evie Porter,” is the given name of our protagonist. She works for the mysterious Mr. Smith. Her mysterious boss gives her a name, identity, and location and then tasks her with learning everything about her subject and growing close with them. Eventually, she is tasked with bringing the subject down. This isn’t a case of murdering someone – she’s not an assassin; she simply has to make something happen. Maybe she’s to gather evidence to alert the police to bring the person to justice, or perhaps she’s only meant to make them quit their job, leave town, or steal an expensive piece of art. She’s worked for Mr. Smith for years, with each job growing in complexity. The problem is that Evie has never met Mr. Smith, and she’s beginning to wonder if she’ll ever be able to get away from him and lead a normal life.

Ryan Sumner is her latest target, and as Evie immerses herself in her new identity, she finds herself drawn to Ryan and starts envisioning a different life for herself. However, she feels Mr. Smith breathing down her neck, and she’s afraid he may be up to something – something that may result in her being permanently removed from her job.

Elston’s writing style is effective in capturing the essence of a small town and the tension that comes with living a double life. The narrative flowed smoothly, and the pacing kept me engaged throughout. The story is told from Evie’s perspective and switches between the present and past cases in which she has worked. This approach gives us an idea of who “Evie” used to be and how the jobs she has worked for Mr. Smith have become more and more dangerous over the years.

Evie is a well-crafted character. Her resilience and determination are evident as she navigates the treacherous waters of her double life. The author does a commendable job of portraying Evie’s internal struggles and the constant fear of her past catching up to her. Evie is smart, and I loved watching her piece clues together and keep herself a step ahead of Mr. Smith. Regarding the secondary characters, I enjoyed Ryan well enough, but I wasn’t completely smitten with him. I especially liked Derek – Evie’s “partner” that she worked with to complete her jobs.

While I went into this one expecting higher stakes and a few more thrills, I still enjoyed the book. The plot is engaging, and the twists and turns kept me turning the pages. The mystery aspect of the novel is well-executed. Elston skillfully weaves together clues and red herrings, keeping the reader guessing until the very end. I appreciated the way the story unraveled, with each piece of the puzzle falling into place. I enjoyed the nice little twist at the end. I didn’t see it coming at all, and I felt that it tied things up nicely.

Overall, this is a solid mystery that offers an intriguing premise and a well-developed protagonist. While I personally wasn’t completely blown away by it, I can appreciate its engaging plot and the author’s skillful execution. If you’re a fan of mysteries that explore the complexities of double lives and the dangers of the past catching up, this may be a book worth adding to your reading list.