Book of the Week April 23, 20226
Nadeeka leaves work early, convinced that her boyfriend, Jamie, is cheating and determined to confront him. Instead, she arrives home to flashing lights, police tape, and the devastating news that Jamie has been stabbed to death in their living room. What begins as a search for his possible lover quickly spirals into something far more unsettling. As Nadeeka digs deeper, nothing about Jamie’s life lines up with the man she thought she knew. His coworkers insist her name is Nadia—the name he used for her. A cherished photo of the two of them is hidden away in a drawer rather than displayed. And then comes the most shocking revelation of all: Jamie’s ties to a white supremacist group called New Dawn, including his role in a local arson. The betrayal Nadeeka feared turns out to be the least of it. With each discovery, the ground beneath her shifts, pulling her into a reality that feels increasingly unreal. Mackintosh crafts a chilling, emotionally grounded thriller that continually upends expectations. Packed with sharp twists and a deeply sympathetic protagonist, It’s Not What You Think lives up to its title in every way, delivering a story that will keep even seasoned thriller readers guessing until the very end.—Jeff Ayers
