Very Slowly All at Once by Lauren Schott

Description

What could have been an interesting plot device quickly turns into an unbelievable reveal of the antagonist, reasons given for the acts committed, and ultimately leaves the reader highly disappointed at the end of what could have been a great work. Mack and Hailey Evans are realizing that life is not going great for them. They are living in a rich suburb of Cleveland in a community full of fancy homes owned by the rich, a house they are realizing they can’t afford anymore, but one that Hailey does not want to give up because she has always wanted to live in this community. One day, Mack receives a mysterious check in the mail. Desperate for money, he cashes it. More checks arrive until a total of $47,000 has arrived. Then, the demands start arriving, and Mack and Hailey are at their wits’ end. Who gave them the money, and why do they want this dentist dead on a particular day?

The buildup is pretty decent as the tension mounts and Mack and Hailey become more unlikeable characters throughout the book. But when the villain is revealed, the reasons why the book is now a farce and a waste of time.