I am a big fan of Laura Lippman having seen the author at Harrogate a few years ago, so I was keen to read her latest and was very excited to be sent a proof copy.

Prom Mom starts with Amber, she attends her high school prom with a fellow pupil Joe. During the prom Amber becomes ill and has to return to her room, whilst Joe continues to party. Unfortunately the events of that night have far reaching consequences for both of them. When they eventually meet again 20 years later the history they share pushes them together and when Joe’s life with his wife Meredith starts to unravel it’s Amber he asks for help.

This was a great read that I very much enjoyed. I like the fact that there isn’t a huge cast of characters to keep track off, the focus is on Amber and Joe and a few main characters that their lives revolve around. These characters are a real mix, and without exception my opinons of all the main characters changed chapter by chapter. Where I started off feeling sorry for some they soon became objects of pity, or hate, and vice versa. No one was who they really seemed to be.

The main act of the story is set against the background of Covid restrictions and whilst this could have been a bit off putting I felt it was handled sensitively and did give some handy plot fodder.

The twist at the end was good, and although I did guess one of the main plots it was still a good read. I enjoy the writing style, its short and keeps the story interesting, the changing viewpoints give a sense of misdirection that keeps you guessing to the end.

I enjoy this type of American teen drama meets mystery thriller and I think Laura Lippman excels at this. I would definitely recommend.

Pre-order your copy here: Amazon