DNF at 50%!

The idea of the book was interesting, a thriller about a woman that has survived a brutal attack that killed her husband. The killer is her daughter's boyfriend. But problem is that the woman can't remember the night and it's a possibility that the daughter was involved in the attack.

This is a book that is supposed to be a thriller, but it never feels like that. What if feels like is a mother's reminisce about a daughter's childhood going wrong and I just couldn't get into the story. There were so many things that bothered me that that in the end I didn't feel like it was worth finishing the book. One thing that really annoyed me is how they treated the youngest daughter, yes she had a lazy eye, but I often felt that she was treated as a lesser being than the older daughter. Iris was the perfect daughter, whiles Dawn was the imperfect one. And, that goes on and on during the mother's memory of her daughters growing up.

There are many 4-5 stars here on Goodreads so apparently there are people that did enjoy the book. I was just not among them...

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review. ( )

DNF at 50%!

The idea of the book was interesting, a thriller about a woman that has survived a brutal attack that killed her husband. The killer is her daughter's boyfriend. But problem is that the woman can't remember the night and it's a possibility that the daughter was involved in the attack.

This is a book that is supposed to be a thriller, but it never feels like that. What if feels like is a mother's reminisce about a daughter's childhood going wrong and I just couldn't get into the story. There were so many things that bothered me that that in the end I didn't feel like it was worth finishing the book. One thing that really annoyed me is how they treated the youngest daughter, yes she had a lazy eye, but I often felt that she was treated as a lesser being than the older daughter. Iris was the perfect daughter, whiles Dawn was the imperfect one. And, that goes on and on during the mother's memory of her daughters growing up.

There are many 4-5 stars here on Goodreads so apparently there are people that did enjoy the book. I was just not among them...

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through NetGalley for an honest review. ( )

Can't you admit to yourself that your child could do an unthinkable, horrible act? Hanna must come to her own realization on her own time. It read like a memory being told to you by a new friend. ( )

4.5 stars.

Lacy Eye by Jessica Treadway is an intriguing and thought-provoking novel that is also rather heartbreaking. Loosely based on a real-life crime, this tightly plotted novel is a suspenseful mystery about a family whose lives have been torn apart by a vicious attack that left Hanna Schutt permanently disfigured and her husband, Joe dead. Also deeply affected by the tragedy are the couples' adult daughters, Iris and Dawn. Three years after the bludgeoning, Iris continues to struggle with depression while Dawn cannot escape the cloud of suspicion that has plagued her since her boyfriend Rud Petty's arrest and subsequent conviction of the horrific crime. Hanna has always adamantly believed Dawn's assertion Rud acted alone, but with no recollection of the crime, how certain can she be of her daughter's innocence?

On the surface, the Schutt family appears to be the typical suburban family. Joe is a hardworking CPA who is incredibly organized and very comfortable in his skin. Hanna is a dedicated wife and mom who defers to Joe on most issues. Oldest daughter Iris is beautiful, smart, talented and popular. Youngest daughter Dawn struggles to fit in as she contends with bullies who make fun of her because of an eye condition. Of course Joe and Hanna are concerned about Dawn but they are hoping now she is in college, she will finally "come into her own". At first, it appears their prayers have been answered as she forms a close friendship with her college roommate and she begins dating Rud.

But when Dawn brings Rud home to meet the family, they become suspicious of Rud and his reasons for dating their daughter. A confrontation between the four during a holiday visit occurs just hours before the horrific attack on Joe and Hanna, and the police quickly zero in on Rud and Dawn as their prime suspects. Without enough evidence to indict Dawn, the district attorney charges Rud and although most of the evidence against him is circumstantial, he is convicted of the crimes. After Rud wins an appeal three years after his conviction, the pressure is on Hanna to testify in the upcoming trial, but she truly has no memory of the attack.

Hanna's blind faith in Dawn begins to falter as she reminisces about her daughter's difficult childhood. Has she overlooked key aspects of Dawn's personality that could indicate serious psychological problems? Were she and Joe too quick to dismiss teacher's concerns about Dawn over the years? Is Hanna somehow responsible for Dawn's ongoing issues? When Dawn returns home after a long absence, Hanna is forced to admit that everything might not be quite right with her daughter, but does that mean Dawn is capable of murder?

Written in first person from Hanna's perspective, Lacy Eye is a contemplative story with quite a few twists and turns. This mesmerizing character study is quite compelling despite its sometimes dark and disturbing subject matter. It is an exceptionally well-written and fascinating mystery that Jessica Treadway brings to an stunning and absolutely chilling conclusion.
( )

Jessica Treadway's latest novel is Lacy Eye. The cover's tag line......What if you began to suspect your child of an unspeakable crime...had me intrigued.

Hanna and Joe's youngest daughter Dawn, was always socially awkward and a step behind, "like there's something missing." When she goes away to college, they have high hopes that she will settle in and find her place in the world. What she does find is an older boyfriend, one who isn't quite what he says he is. Shortly after a visit by Dawn and Rud, Hanna and Joe are the victims of an unthinkable crime. Rud is convicted, but with an appeal looming, the crime must be revisited. Hanna's memory of that night is completely blanked out. While others question if Dawn was involved, Hanna steadfastly defends her daughter.

Steadway does a great job of drawing the reader into Hanna's mindset - the fear of reliving what happened, the frustration of not being able to remember and worst of all, the uncertainty that clouds her relationship with Dawn. Treadway takes us from present to past and back again as she slowly reveals more about Dawn, Hanna, Joe, their relationships and what might have led to where they are now. I was conflicted about the characters - I had a hard time liking Hanna and her husband, despite them being victims. Dawn is just as much a victim in many ways. I think it would have been interesting to 'see' things from Dawn's point of view as well.

The title? Lacy eye - "trying to make something prettier than it actually was." Choosing to see only what we want to see, not necessarily reality. Turning a blind eye you might say.

Treadway has taken inspiration for her book from a real life case. Those looking for a mystery or fast paced thriller won't find it in Lacy Eye. Instead, it's a slow building read to the final (expected) answer of whodunit. ( )