Rabbit Hole is a well-intentioned, beautifully written novel about mental illness and a life derailed by internet conspiracy theories. It deals with complex female and familial relationships in the aftermath of a family tragedy. This not a psychological thriller, but rather a slow burn mystery and character study on grief. Teddi Angstrom, age 26, is a teacher at an exclusive prep school in Maine. Ten years earlier, her sister disappeared, never to be seen again.
On the 10th anniversary of her sister’s disappearance, Teddi’s father commits suicide. Left to pick up the pieces and deal with another loss in the family are Teddi and her mum.
During the clean-up of her father’s belongings, Teddi comes across his private investigation into her sister’s disappearance. There is an online forum via Reddit he was heavily involved in. Through this discovery, Teddi quickly becomes entangled with the group and all their theories. It doesn’t take long for her to be swept up in the true crime community and allow her personal life to spiral out of control as she becomes obsessive about solving what happened to her sister.
As characters, Teddi and her mum were both very full. There was also a running narrative about the family dog that just didn’t sit well with me.
Overall, this is a clever and darkly compelling read that tugs at your heartstrings. While it may not be for everyone, I highly recommend it for those who enjoy character driven, heavy inner monologue, dark mysteries.
Reviewed by Linda Raiti
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ABOUT THE AUTHORKate Brody lives in Los Angeles, California. Her work has appeared in The New York Times andThe Guardian among other publications. She holds an MFA from NYU. Rabbit Hole is her debut.
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