This recap is intended as a memory refresher for readers who have already read the book and want a quick reminder before continuing the series. It is not a substitute for the original work. All characters, settings, and storylines belong to their respective authors and publishers. If you have not read the book, I strongly recommend experiencing the original story first. No summary can replicate the depth, suspense, and enjoyment of reading the book itself.
Pippa Fitz Amobi is asked to decide on a topic for her school project and she decides to investigate the cold case of Andie Bell. Andie Bell had disappeared a few years back with no trace whatsoever. A few days after her disappearance her boyfriend at the time, Sal Singh allegedly killed himself and in his suicide note, he admitted to being the murderer of Andie.
The reason Pip wants to investigate the case despite everyone believing Sal is guilty is because Sal had always helped her as a child and she believed he was a good person. On the day of Andie’s disappearance when Sal was looking for her, Pip helped him find her so she also feels guilty since then.
Pip meets up with Ravi Singh, Sal’s younger brother and they work towards finding out the truth together. They find out that Andie was having an affair with an older man who was Elliot Ward, Naomi and Cara’s father.
Elliot is a teacher in school, he was Andie’s teacher too. Andie needed extra classes and Elliot tutored her, during these lessons they started having an affair but she broke up with him after getting in the relationship with Sal because she genuinely felt for him. However, a few weeks before Andie went missing she reached out to Elliot and pleaded for extra cash because she said she needed it.
The reason she needed extra cash was because her father Jason Bell was very controlling and it was becoming more and more difficult for her to survive in that house with her father so she wanted to collect enough money to flea with Sal and start a new life together.
Andie’s younger sister Becca Bell was extremely disappointed when she spoke to Andie and found out about her plan to run away because she would be leaving Becca behind alone to deal with their father’s anger. For Becca all their life they have dealt with their father’s habits together but when Andie had decided to run away without her Becca saw it as betrayal.
Moreover, Becca had been raped by Max Hastings, who had drugged her prior to raping her at a calamity party, making her lose memory of the incident and her having no strength to fight Max back. As time passed, she found out that the drugs Max used to drug her were given to him by Andie.
When Becca went to confront Andie about it she found out about her plan and in a fit of rage she pushed Andie which led to Andie being injured on her head and she ultimately bled to death. Becca disposed Andie’s body deep in the jungle and it was never recovered. When Pip figured out that Becca was the killer, Becca even tried to kill Pip but she was saved by Ravi and Cara in the end before Becca could deeply hurt her.
However, when the police investigation about Andie’s disappearance started, Jason Bell was afraid that the investigation would lead back to him and his affair with one of his students would be exposed. So, to make sure the investigation never reaches him, he killed Sal Singh and wrote Sal’s suicide note making everyone believe that Sal was guilty, thus keeping his secret safe.
Right after murdering Sal he was drinking and unintentionally ended up telling a girl what he did. So, he kept her away from everyone, isolated in his roof ever since. He did, however, give her food and took care of her as well.
A year before Andie’s disappearance all of them had been involved in a hit and run that they were not blamed for because Max had called Daniel Da Silva and threatened to expose the fact that he and Andie were in a sexual relationship, years back when she was a minor. Danial being in the police, pulled some strings and got them out of it. Elliot had read Naomi’s diary and found out about it so he used this to blackmailed Nat Da Silva, Max Hastings and Naomi Ward to lie about Sal’s whereabouts, the night of Andie’s disappearance so even though Sal had an alibi he was still considered guilty.
Pip is the main character. She and Ravi develop feelings for each other throughout the book. Ravi is always a little hesitant because of the way the whole neighborhood looks at him because of his brother allegedly being a killer. However, Pip is very forward in that sense, she is always ready to interrogate anyone and her character is very fearless.
She is Pip’s best friend. She becomes a part of the collateral damage when Pip finds out about Elliot Ward’s deeds. He gets arrested and now it becomes very difficult for her as well. But throughout the book she has been nothing but supportive of Pip investigating the case. Her and Pip’s friendship has been shown to be very pure and it is clear that they truly love each other.
Naomi feels very guilty for lying to the police about Sal’s whereabouts because they were best friends. She feels helpless because if she were to tell the police the truth she would not only be putting herself in danger but also Max and he kept reminding her what was at stake if she told.
Max Hastings used to buy drugs from Andie Bell and use them at calamity parties on girls so he could rape them. He is a very indecent character. He has a lot of wealth though so he is of the belief that he can get through anything.
Daniel and Nat are siblings. They have had a very difficult childhood and have survived it togther. They are very close emotionally because of that. Daniel is in the police