All right: This isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea as it lacks the usual hallmarks of a Deaver tale. But on a sheer writing challenge level, the novel in reverse is a brilliant concept and while not flawless, is pulled off with aplomb.

I am so glad I read other reviews before reading this book. I chose to read this from back to front so as to avoid the confusion of many readers. A very fast, enjoyable read. Deaver is indeed clever and a good writer.

After having read this book both frontwards AND backwards I am still not sure if I enjoyed it. It was extremely confusing on the first read through and I had to continually go back to re-read chapters to figure out what was going on and who was who. I did enjoy the surprise ending ( or should I say beginning) but I am not convinced it was worth the effort.

The only sensible way to read this book is "backwards". Start with chapter 1 at the back of the book, and read it in the proper order of the events in the story. The backward ordering of the book took some time to sort out how it was written, and it was very annoying to try to figure out what sort of game Deaver was playing with his readers. This format is a total failure as a gimmick.
I have given it 0 stars.

Initially frustrating reading the story back to font, you have to invert your mind-set. I almost quit. But what a great story and twisted ending. I too had to go back and read it again knowing what the crime was going to be in the last chapter.

My husband just finished reading it. He was disappointed how it went in reverse. It ended with a surprise ending and yes he had to go back and read the first chapter to see how it ended. I now have to read it.

I generally love my Deaver novels, but this one, a psychological thriller written in reverse, fell well short of his usual excellence. I frequently skipped lengthy descriptive sections & by the final chapter, I was so bored, I no longer cared HOW it ended. Disappointing

Oh wow. This was an incredible feat of writing in a technical sense, and full of patented Deaver twists and turns. Took a while to get into it; it is written in reverse, each chapter taking place before the preceding chapter.

Amazing work, surprises all through, and big surprise at the end.

not the Jeffery Deaver I know.................blah

The book was okay – but not one of my favorites.