Michelle 's Reviews > Those Empty Eyes

This book right here is a perfect example of a book not being for everyone. Most of my friends found this one to be mediocre at best so I waited to the very last minute to read my arc and I was dreading that it would put me in a book slump. Lucky for me, it did not put me in a slump, and I actually liked it quite a bit.

Alexandra Quinlan is an 18 year old girl, home asleep in her bed, when the unthinkable happens. She is awakened by a gun shot. Not just one but three gun shots to be exact. Her father, mother, and 13 year old brother have been gunned down and killed. Alexandra, now hiding behind a grandfather clock in the hallway, is never discovered by the perpetrator. When the police arrive they find Alexandra in shock, sitting at the foot of her parents bed, with the shotgun in her hands. The police believe she's guilty of killing her family. An image of the shocked young woman being led from her home in handcuffs has earned her the name, Empty Eyes.

Eventually, due to poor police work and a lacking investigation the charges on Alexandra are dropped. To the public though she is now a murderer that got away with the unthinkable. Not only that but after winning a defamation case she is awarded millions. Some think that money is undeserved.

Alexandra, however, is determined to find the true guilty party. Will her investigation lead her to the truth? You'll have to read this to find out!

When Donlea sat down to pen this novel he was certainly feeling ambitious. You have the main plot and many meandering sub-plots that seem unconnected but I assure you Donlea manages to weave them all together in the end. Now I admit that this is a little (a lot!) over the top, something I usually struggle with, but because I was enjoying the journey to find out the truth I didn't let it bother me this time. I really like Alexandra and I wanted to see her character arc come full circle. The ending offered up a couple of juicy surprises that were completely unexpected. Don't you just love when that happens? I know I do! 4 stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my complimentary copy.