1989: An Eye for an Eye is a riveting and emotionally tangled novel that centers around a decades-old murder case that left deep scars on a small Southern town. At the heart of the story is Ingrid, a woman haunted by her hidden identity, a web of family secrets, and a burning desire to clear her father’s name. After faking her death to go underground, she returns under a new identity, determined to expose the corruption that destroyed her family. What unfolds is a suspense-filled narrative that weaves together revenge, redemption, and revelations, touching on systemic injustice, identity, and the burden of legacy. With alternating perspectives and past secrets slowly coming to light, the novel drips with tension, building a compelling mystery around who’s guilty and who deserves justice.

I found myself genuinely pulled in by Smith’s writing. It’s not fancy or highbrow, but it’s honest and raw, and that made it powerful. The dialogue feels real, like you’re eavesdropping on two people who have been through hell together. The way he builds emotional weight around every choice Ingrid makes, especially the internal tug-of-war between vengeance and doing the right thing, hits hard. That said, the book has a big cast, and a few times I had to flip back to remember who someone was. Still, the pacing and reveals kept me hooked. It’s a big story with layers of betrayal, hidden ties, and long-buried pain. Every time I thought I’d figured something out, another twist would shake it up.

What really got me was the heart underneath all the thriller elements. The relationships, especially between Ingrid and Nicole, carry the emotional muscle of the story. You see how trauma doesn’t just affect one person, it ripples through generations. And when Ingrid gets her moment to finally breathe and step out of the shadows, you feel it. You also feel the price she pays to get there. The moral ambiguity in this book is thick. You’re constantly questioning what’s justified and what isn’t. And while some characters are undeniably evil, others live in this gray space that makes them unforgettable.

It’s gripping, it’s personal, and it asks big questions without offering easy answers. I’d recommend 1989: An Eye for an Eye to anyone who loves mystery, family drama, or stories about strong women navigating impossible choices. If you’re into slow-burning revenge tales that pack a gut punch, this is your kind of read.

Pages: 278