Whidbey is a literary exploration of three women bound together by the murder of Calvin Boyer, the man who harmed them in different ways. As Birdie flees to Whidbey Island and discovers another survivor’s memoir, and as Calvin’s mother grapples with his death, the novel examines justice, storytelling, and the long shadow of abuse. More character study than thriller, it centers on the emotional aftermath rather than the mystery itself.

I knew going into this that Whidbey was more literary fiction than mystery or thriller but I still hoped for at least some suspense. Unfortunately, I just… didn’t love it. For a book built around a murder and the possibility of revenge, it really lacked any true tension or thriller elements.

This is very much a character-driven novel. The focus stays firmly on the women impacted by Calvin’s choices: his victims, his mother, and even those who love the victims. I did appreciate that the majority of the narrative space belongs to the women. Their voices and interior lives are front and center, and the book clearly wants to interrogate harm from multiple angles.

That said, I struggled to connect with any of them. They’re all deeply flawed, which can absolutely make characters feel more realistic but in this case, I couldn’t relate to or really care about any of them. Instead of feeling layered and human, they felt emotionally distant to me. I admired what the author was trying to do more than I felt invested in the outcome.

I also wasn’t a fan of the structure. The story is divided into three parts: the first two-thirds unfold through the women’s points of view, and then the final third shifts to an almost detached, seemingly unbiased narrator (I assumed something like a podcast host). That last section essentially lays out what happened in a very direct way. It felt like a lot of telling and not much showing, which made the ending feel more explanatory than impactful. Overall, the pacing felt choppy and drawn out.

I finished the book because I felt like I needed to. Even though I wasn’t enjoying it, I still wanted to know what happened. It’s certainly grim and thought-provoking, and I respect the subject matter and the ambition behind it. But I was left slightly disappointed, and I’m honestly not sure what would have made it fully work for me.

I’m settling at 3 stars, mostly for the themes and the attempt. If you love heavily character-driven, contemplative literary fiction, this might really resonate with you. For something that explores similar territory but felt more effective to me, I’d recommend Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka, which tackles related themes but leans more successfully into mystery alongside its literary commentary.

AMAZON | GOODREADS  | BOOKSHOP |★★★

Whidbey comes out March 10, 2026. Thank you to Mariner Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my review.  If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.