"Complicit" by Amy Rivers offers a suspenseful thriller with a tangled web of deception and a protagonist thrust into a dangerous situation. Kate Medina, a forensic psychologist, experiences a traumatic incident that leads her to a seemingly safer job as a high school psychologist. However, when a student goes missing and Kate is drawn into the investigation, the story takes a darker turn.

The novel's strengths lie in its gripping premise and the way it explores the psychological toll of trauma on its characters. Amy Rivers delves into Kate's struggles and complex emotions, making her a relatable and sympathetic lead. The book also effectively portrays the small-town dynamics and the challenges Kate faces in her professional and personal life.

However, the story's pacing can be uneven at times, with certain sections feeling rushed while others are drawn out. Additionally, some plot twists are somewhat predictable, which may disappoint readers seeking a truly mind-bending thriller.

Despite these shortcomings, "Complicit" manages to maintain a level of tension that keeps the reader engaged. Amy Rivers crafts a story of suspense and deceit, showcasing the blurred lines between trust and betrayal. While it doesn't quite reach the heights of a five-star thriller, it still offers an enjoyable reading experience for fans of psychological suspense.

This is one messed up town, wow, I cannot believe the stuff they have gotten away with! I did not realize this was the first book in a series, I am hopeful that book #2 is released in the near future so we can catch up with these characters and what has been happening since the end of this story.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This was a fast paced, engrossing read about some really messed up people. I found the characterization pretty good though I was getting annoyed with the back and forth between Kate and Roman. I understand the concept of anxiety (dealing with. it myself regularly) but her snippy behavior when he was acting normal seemed over the top. I know it was to keep some tension going between ex-lovers but it got kind of grating. I also was getting irritated that Kate couldn't see what Tilly was dealing with even though I figured it out almost immediately when she didn't come back home often and was testy when there. So overall, I feel like the misunderstanding trope was in play here, which is one I can't stand. However, the subject matter was intense and the writing was good so I'll definitely check out other books by this author.

Thanks so much and I'm really sorry for the crazy delay!

A terrific book which has all the ingredients of a real page turner including a fast paced plot, interesting characters, enough complexity to keep you engaged and a pleasing feeling of more to come for this character.

The book starts with Kate, whose tragic past has made her walk away from being a forensic psychologist. Her past is revealed as the book moves along. She is working at a high school, a low level of stress, and no drama type of job. Until one of the students go missing, and she becomes involved in the investigation. I will read the next book in the series, just to see where everything ends up.

Complicit Amy Rivers
As soon as I finished this book, I went straight online to see if it was part of a series, and very happy to say, book 2 is now on my kindle, ready to go!
I loved Kate and Tilly, and delighted to see book two has both characters.
Great storyline, likeable characters and enough action to keep me turning the pages.

This was chilling and compelling and dealt with some very powerful issues, it is the start of a new series and I will definitely be looking out for the rest

This book was everything I look for in a book. It was so exciting. The plot was fantastic. It really had me on the edge of my seat, and my heart racing. It was very well written and flowed well.

Rivers is a wonderful writer, and this book was a great read. The characters were very realistic and there was a lot of great character development in this book. I really enjoyed it and am looking froward to reading more from this author.

4 stars. This book was honestly very chilling. After an incident she goes back home and gets a job in a field where she can't really shake her past. The book was a great read.

Review

The premise of this book sounded interesting, and I was looking forward to reading it.

I must say that while it was an engaging plot, I had a hard time finishing it. Don't get me wrong, the story is good, and the pace flows nicely with the storyline. However, the plot deals with themes of rape, sex crimes, and corruption in the police force and politics, so it was not the easiest book to read.

In the story, Kate Medina is dealing with PTSD after suffering a brutal attack as a former forensic pathologist at a prison. She decides to leave her job and move back to her hometown where she starts working as a student counselor. But her return home is shaken a few weeks later when the body of a missing local high school girl is found and another young girl goes missing. Roman Aguilar, the lead detective assigned to the case, asks Kate for her professional help, and when they dig deeper trying to figure out what happened to the girl, Kate comes across evidence that people in higher-up positions are helping the perpetrator to cover up the crimes. Now, Kate has a target on her back, and she does not know how to help the girls that keep mysteriously disappearing.

The plot of the book is told from Kate's point of view. She is the main character, and her own dynamics with her family, Roman Aguilar, and the missing girl provide the plot devices to keep the story moving. Kate has a complicated relationship with her family and her hometown, and as the story develops, it becomes clear that there is a link between her own experiences and what is currently happening. Kate is not the most likable character, and she comes up as volatile and, at times, irrational. It gets harder and harder to support her decisions as they get more and more foolish. However, it is also clear she is dealing with her own trauma, and what's happening in the town is affecting her emotionally.

The other important parts of the storyline are explored by Kate's own interactions with the rest of the characters. She is the counselor of the girl that goes missing, and the information she has learned during her meeting with the girl helps her to know what to ask and to whom. As part of the investigation, Kate interacts with people that provide her with insight into the other disappearances, which consequently leads her to find out more about certain members of the community that are well connected politically. As she digs more about these people and their connections, Kate learns information that helps her link former crimes to current ones. She becomes an unlikely detective tracking down people who can help her and Roman to solve the case.

Overall, this story is compelling and heartbreaking. There are very graphic depictions of sexual abuse and murder of high school girls, and it can be very hard to read. Personally, I find that certain topics like rape and sexual assault can be part of a story without getting graphic and gritty. And this was my main issue with this book. I had to skip over large chunks of text because I just couldn't deal with the descriptions of these repulsive acts. There were a few parts of the storyline that were not fully resolved, but I'm assuming that they will be in the next book of the series. Cliffhangers in these types of stories are expected and did not affect my opinion of the book as a whole.

Complicit is not a bad novel as it is very good at describing emotions and the reality of child grooming and paedophilia, even the sense of rich white entitlement gets the treatment, but the execution is flat, slightly muddled and not conclusive enough to make it a satisfying read.

What a book - thank you so much for letting me have an advanced copy.
I read this over a couple of days, so many twists and turns and I didn't know what was going to happen next, but the let down ... sorry there is one, the ending please what happens next ??!!! .I need the next book now please.

A page-turning read with well developed, likable characters and a solid plot, A definitely enjoyable read!

This book was sent to me as an ARC on Netgalley. However all opinions are of my own.
I loved how fast paced this book was and that there was loads of twists and turns.
Watching Kate walk away from the job she loved was horrible but she soon realised she was in a dangerous game where one thing was clear - no one can be trusted!

Great book. Highly recommend and will most defiantly read more by this author and suggest to others!

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was a great start to a crime thriller. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their story it was a fun read.

The first book from A Legacy of Silence series. This is really the kind of story that makes you cringe because in reality in happens and they are a lot of young victims who rather choose to be quiet than speaking up about their perpetrators.

Kate is a forensic psychologist who chose to be a high school student psychologist because of a traumatic experience. Her quiet hometown becomes the center of violence when one of the students from their school was murdered.

Her former boyfriend, Roman now a detective asked help from her because the case was close to home and some who was involved were popular members of their community.

I can't wait for the 2nd book! I was at the edge of my seat with the cat and mouse chase of the suspects.

Thank you to Compathy Press and Netgalley for the ARC!

I really hope there is a follow up book! I was so engrossed in this story it affected my dreams.

I really liked Kate and Roman and would love to see them working together again. I’m hoping this is the start of a series.

This story is hard on the heart and hits on some major issues the country is facing. The mentality of the citizens of this small town in New Mexico is so common. When someone tries to stop the issue, they almost become a mob mentality and it’s quite scary.

This story will stick with me for quite a while. I highly suggest you read it with an open mind so you can enjoy how well written this story is.