This book could have been better.

CoHo has this way of structuring her books. Majority of the book's plot is dedicated to tension and build up of some inevitable situation that will occur towards the end of the book. And then she'll spare a chapter or two on a HUGE plot twist that twists the reader's perception of that build up and tension going on for 95% of the book. I saw this in November 9, I saw this in Confess.  Predictability isn't necessarily a good thing, but CoHo has constantly used this formula and it has gotten boring. So when the big plot twist came, I was like, "Alright, there it is." I finished the book like that.

SPOILERS AHEAD

First of all, Lowen's put through an unnecessary amount of trauma that isn't even integral to the plot. I can let the car accident in the first chapter of the book pass as CoHo trying to set the mood for the story. But Lowen's sleepwalking? I felt like her breaking down in front of Jeremy felt like a checklist to get them to sleep in the same room for fluff. Right after Lowen came from his "comatose" wife's room. I mean, if you find that cute, sure? I was already extremely uncomfortable knowing Lowen and Jeremy were fucking while Verity - Jeremy's comatose WIFE whom he's dedicated to taking care of - "slept" in the room above them.

 

The big plot twist could have been less predictable? CoHo could have centered that plot twist around Jeremy rather than Verity. It would have been the perfect setup: Jeremy, unassuming, sweet, loving parent, versus Verity, whom we already suspect was a psychopath who hated her children. I would have been more shocked if there was emphasis or hints throughout the book to Jeremy being drastically protective father for his last child, to the point of possibly setting up Verity's death without being guided by Lowen? It would have been fascinating if he was the real mastermind or so.

  

Part of me also wishes that Verity and Lowen could have gotten to bond, rather than the entire book dedicated to Verity pretending to be comatose. It would have been a nice parallel to Jeremy with Verity, that she's a good mother who will do anything for her last surviving child. There were so many opportunities for Verity to plead her case to Lowen and help her escape. Instead, I would have to read through Verity and Jeremy's sex life. If I wasn't reading their sex life, it would be Lowen and Jeremy's pining turned sex. For a book called a thriller, 'disappointing' would be putting it lightly.

There were occasions where writing of this book was a little stunted and dragging, especially at the first portions of the book where nothing much happens yet. Like so:

"He moves to the sink and runs the water again, and begins washing his hands. I continue to stare at him, unable to mute my curiosity. What did he mean when he said he's seen worse than the accident we just witnessed? He said he used to be in real estate, but even the worst day on the job as a realtor wouldn't fill someone with the kind of gloom that's filling this man."
"What happened to you?" I ask.
He looks at me in the mirror. "What do you mean?"

Writing like that, which could have been more straightforward or better executed. There's also a portion at the last chapter of the book that feels too 'tell' and too little 'show.' It felt like I was being babied to understand what CoHo was trying to convey with her plot twist. Give your reader a little more credit to infer on their own, maybe?

Verity isn't a bad book, I guess. I will admit, for her first time writing thriller, I admire CoHo for trying to veer out of her usual romance books and trying her hand at Verity. Contrary to what most of the reviews will say, it isn't something that will keep you up at night if you're familiar with thrillers. I can see why CoHo fans hyped up Verity and would be eager to devour a book when they're normally used to reading her romances. But I can imagine thriller fans may find themselves disappointed reading Verity.

Still, despite my conflicting feelings towards the book, I'll give it a 2.5 and give props for CoHo's efforts to write this book. I'm not part of her usual demographic, and I begun Verity since it was book of the month in a group I'm a part of. But CoHo's writing and plot have definitely reminded me why I don't read CoHo books often.