Review Detail

One day out of the blue, Matilda gets an invitation from a father she never knew. All she knows is that Kingsley Cello is a famous artist, and that her mother was his muse for a famous painting. He left when her mother was pregnant with Matilda. Matilda is curious about her father and decides to go and meet him before starting college at UC Irvine.

But when she arrives, her father is nowhere to be found. What she finds instead is Meer, a brother she never knew she had; Brock, a former child star dealing with addictions; and rude Tatum, who doesn't want her there.

Though her father doesn't show, she stays. She has burning questions. Only ones he can answer. At the island castle, there are not only many rooms, but also secrets. Above it all, everyone is lying. Who can she believe?

What worked: I'm such a big fan of this series! Twisty, filled with betrayals, secrets, and a haunting Gothic vibe. I especially love how this companion novel to the We Were Liars brings the series all together. Spoiler alert-Since this is a companion novel, there are mentions of the Sinclairs from the other books.

Matilda is used to her mother's impulsiveness and the different men that come into her life. But she never knew about her father until that invitation came in the mail. Her mother is elusive and doesn't say much about Matilda's father.

I really like the writing style of this series. It's fast-paced and punchy with the dialogue and the interactions between the boys and Matilda. June, Meer's mother, first comes across as flaky and strange. The reason why is revealed much later in the novel.

Tatum shows his displeasure with Matilda's arrival. He is rude and isn't afraid to let her know he doesn't want her there. Matilda pushes back and refuses to let him get to her. The only thing that matters is to speak to her father and ask him the reasons behind his strange invitation. Especially since no one either knows about the invite or doesn't want her there.

And the castle is a character on its own. So many rooms that are locked. Creepy paintings that have Matilda's face on them. There's a total Gothic vibe that resonates throughout the castle and the host of characters.

Intense with a mystery on what exactly is happening on Hidden Beach, along with gut-wrenching betrayals and a twisty reveal. Fans of e. Lockhart won't be disappointed.