For nearly two decades, everyone thought Patty Watts was the perfect mother and model citizen. She helped her neighbors in need. She volunteered in the community. All this, while raising her terribly sick daughter, Rose Gold, who was in and out of hospitals and doctors’ offices, and was eventually confined to a wheelchair. The town held fundraisers to help Patty cover costs for Rose Gold’s medical bills, and everyone said what a brave mother she was.
However, everything changes when Rose Gold turns sixteen and figures out how to use the Internet. While her mom is sleeping, Rose Gold searches the web and discovers that her mother has been poisoning her since she was a baby. With a family friend’s help, Rose Gold testifies against her mother, and Patty goes to prison for five years for child abuse.
When Patty is released from prison, Rose Gold decides to let Patty live with her for a time. Rose Gold is now twenty-three years old and is a single mother of Adam, a two-month old infant. The community is astounded when Rose Gold accepts Patty into her home, considering what went on in their past.
Unknown the town, Rose Gold is hiding secrets, and she has bought Patty’s family home, which holds agonizing memories for Patty. Patty thinks that all she has to do is win Rose Gold’s trust and love back, and then she will be in control again. But revenge is a dish best served cold. Rose Gold has been seething about her childhood treatment and has big surprises for Patty.
This debut novel by Stephanie Wrobel is written in alternating voices of mother and daughter both in present time and flashbacks. Both characters are extremely well-developed, and are strong, devious protagonists who each has their own agenda. The pairs’ minds reveal the motives and consequences of mental and physical abuse. They are both damaged, unreliable narrators; they are indifferent to their actions and maniacal in their own ways. While neither character is particularly likeable, readers will want one or the other to “win”.
The flashbacks tell the backstory of their lives and are smoothly fused into the plot. Although the novel is character-driven, the narrative is disturbing and suspenseful, full of crazy twists and turns. The plot has compelling pacing that will keep readers turning the pages.
Even though this psychological thriller is written for adults, teens will be drawn to it. Hand it to adult readers of Gone Girl and teen readers of Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig. I highly recommend it for public libraries and high school libraries for grades ten and up. I give it five out of five fleur de lis!
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