In the myth-riddled woods of the New Jersey Pine Barrens in 1994, sixteen-year-old Annabelle Riley’s twin sister Sabrina has been having an affair with a mysterious older man and then both sisters vanish. Years later, newly instated Police Chief Callie Hauser makes an arrest that unexpectedly cracks open the cold case, sending shockwaves through generations of women in this small town. As Callie digs deeper, the past and present collide, challenging everything she believes about right and wrong, about who she is, and about the town she’s always called home.

I really enjoyed this one. Told between 1994 and present day, it’s the story of Callie stumbling upon a mystery that ends up being deeply personal; directly involving her, her mother, and secrets the town has been keeping since before she was born. I listened on audio and the narrators were excellent. They brought so much to the multiple POVs and kept me pretty riveted throughout.

What I loved most was the depth within this story. It’s not just a mystery, it’s a family drama wrapped in a cold case wrapped in a police procedural. The grief, the isolation, the feeling of being alone that so many of our characters go through, Mullen handles all of it with real care. The backstory of twins Sabrina and Annabelle was heartbreaking and I loved the atmospheric Pine Barrens setting she crafted around it. It felt moody and heavy in exactly the right way.

There were a few moments where I lost track of how certain characters connected, but honestly that was pretty on par for the way the story unfolds. It’s very layered and the connections reveal themselves gradually rather than all at once. It’s definitely a slow burn, but I think that’s exactly what this story needed. The pacing matched the weight of what was being uncovered, and rushing it would have undercut the emotional impact.

If you’re a fan of Mare of Easttown, this is very much in that lane: a gritty, small-town mystery anchored by a complicated female lead digging into a case that hits close to home. It’s not flashy or twist-heavy, it’s atmospheric and character-driven and stays with you after you finish. Four stars and I’d definitely pick up whatever Mullen writes next.

AMAZON | GOODREADS  | BOOKSHOP |★★★★

Heather is out now. Thank you to Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio 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.