The Opportunist by Elyse Friedman is a hard-to-put-down thriller filled with twists and a gaggle of potential culprits from a dysfunctional family who aren’t overly likeable but are oh-so-intriguing. Their lives are filled with wealth, privilege, and secrets which some members will do anything to keep hidden.

Set in a secluded, private island off the coast of Vancouver, the story focuses on Alana, the estranged daughter of the wealthy Shropshire family who has purposely spent decades away from her family. When her brothers enlist her help to put the kibosh on their father’s impending wedding to his decades younger former personal nurse, Alana is pulled back into the family and all its emotional baggage and secrets.

This is a story filled with suspicion, secrets, and lies which pile up as the body count climbs and readers are faced with trying to figure out the identity of the murderer. The author pulls the reader into her story and deftly reveals the secrets and lies of her characters which kept me second-guessing and ultimately surprised me with the final twist. Well done, Ms. Friedman. Well done!

This is a delightfully dark and twisty story about estrangement, rivalry, power, and greed that was hard to put down, clever, and entertaining. Before beginning this book, I didn’t realize Elyse Friedman was Canadian, and a Torontonian t’boot! This was a pleasant surprise to this Canuck who is eager to read more from this new-to-me author.

You’ll find copies of this book at WPL. Put this book on hold at wpl.ca to get your chance to read this dark and twisty read which publishes today!

Photo credit: Toronto Star