This is a short novel that ends in such a way that it could have easily been combined with the sequel to create a complete book. It does not end on a cliffhanger, though; I look forward to reading the conclusion, but I didn’t feel the urge to dive into it immediately. Reagan (“Alice”) immediately intrigued me as a character based on her determination to seek out (and possibly take revenge) on her brother’s mysterious killer. This has led her down an intriguing educational/career path that puts her directly in the cross-hairs of multiple secretive organizations, much to her detriment. Two men, known as Hatter and Hare, attempt to convince her to ally herself with them. Reagan makes the best choices she can with the information she has. Though she does end up sexually involved with both men, I love that she does so for her desires first and foremost.
Lindt always does a fantastic job portraying computer stuff in her writing in a way that is accessible to readers while also making it clear that her characters know their chops. This book presents it differently, using a secretive “dark web” organization with which Reagan’s brother may have once been involved. (I’m not entirely clear on how official the Wonderland designators are for the characters.) I wish “Alice” had been able to show off more of her computer capability in this book rather than being dragged around the country and forced to manipulate external events to the best of her ability.
Despite the sexy bits, this is very much a female-driven thriller in which the narrator is the hero of her own story and not a pawn in someone else’s (as much as the Hatter and Hare might want to believe otherwise). This book is probably an excellent choice for Lindt fans looking for her talented use of character and drama in a way that does not revolve around romance.
Rating: 4 (out of 5) stars. Cross-posted to Amazon and Goodreads.
I had the conclusion to this duet, The Hatter and the Hare, queued up on my Kindle, but I kept skipping over it in favor of other books. I might read it later, but have no burning desire to do so now.