Not What She Seems

A Novel

By: Yasmin Angoe

Narrated by: Jordan Cobb

She left home as the local pariah at twenty-two, but when a family tragedy brings her back, she must confront her tortured past—and a new danger in town that no one seems to understand but her.

After years of self-exile, Jacinda “Jac” Brodie is back in Brook Haven, South Carolina. But the small cliffside town no longer feels like home. Jac hasn’t been there since the beloved chief of police fell to his death—and all the whispers said she was to blame.

That chief was Jac’s father.

Racked with guilt, Jac left town with no plans to return. But when her granddad lands in the hospital, she rushes back to her family, bracing herself to confront the past.

Brook Haven feels different now. Wealthy newcomer Faye Arden has transformed the notorious Moor Manor into a quaint country inn. Jac’s convinced something sinister lurks beneath Faye’s perfect exterior, yet the whole town fawns over their charismatic new benefactor. And when Jac discovers one of her granddad’s prized possessions in Faye’s office, she knows she has to be right.

But as Jac continues to dig, she stumbles upon dangerous truths that hit too close to home. With not only her life but also her family’s safety on the line, Jac discovers that maybe some secrets are better left buried.

©2024 Yasmin Angoe (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Endless skeletons in the family closet…” —Kirkus Reviews

“Angoe grounds the plot’s surprising twists with lovable, fully realized characters. Lisa Unger fans, take note.” —Publishers Weekly

“Jac’s return to her hometown reveals lie after shocking lie. You’re going to want to help her dig up every dirty secret. Not What She Seems is a must-read for thriller lovers.” —Melinda Leigh, #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author

Great arguments between characters

the book dragged and dragged and dragged. this did not need to be that long. the inner monologuing of Jac was way too much!

I couldn't put it down!!!

Jacinda "Jac" Brodie can't seem to catch a break. Everywhere she goes, trouble seems to follow. Will it ever get better for her, or will there always be a heavy downpour of a dark cloud hovering over her life?

I loved this book, from Jac's thoughts playing out in her mind to the actual events playing out before her very eyes.

I'm not giving anything away apart from what the author has already said about this book. However, I will say, ignore the bad reviews and read this book for yourself. It's really good!

Wow

Loved the plot twist and how it wasn’t so predictable. Very good story of hurt from the past and misunderstanding.

This was a hard listen

I liked how we started out immediately with her back story as to why she left her old town, but it was so hard to keep up when it would switch to her ex taking advantage of her and then her going back home and us following the leads to her granddad’s death.

So many twist and turns!!

I loved this story. Just when I thought I knew what was coming, something else happened!