Destroy Me (SPOILERS)

 I received this book courtesy of Netgalley in exchange for a free review.

On the surface, I chose this book because the story sounded intriguing.

Catherine Bayntun, a recently separated mother, is horrified to see a police sketch of what looks exactly like her, down to the mole on her cheek, on the evening news. She is being sought after a woman, Charlie, is found murdered. Catherine and Charlie were school friends but she hasn't seen her in over 17 years. 

Seventeen years ago they were at a party when Catherine discovered Charlie having sex with a guy she had a crush on. Catherine takes off from the party, walking home when she is chased down my Charlie in a car, a car that isn't hers, its Catherines. They have an argument and then make-up, deciding to go home as they are both very drunk. As Catherine is driving, a dog runs out in front of them and then a 5 year old little girl, Daisy. She tries to stop but its too late, suddenly theres a thud and Daisy is flying though the air. They stop and realize she's already dead. Charlie doesn't have her phone and Catherines phone battery is dead, or so she says (we find out later it wasn't). They decide the girl is already dead and an ambulance wouldn't help her, plus it would ruin their lives. So they leave. They leave a 5 year old little girl, dead in the street.

Fast forward 17 years, Catherine has a 5 year old son, Dylan. One day he comes home from school and she's checking his backpack when she finds an envelope with a photo in it of the park near her house. Then she receives another one of the road where the girl died, the exact spot. She soon realizes that someone from the girls family is targeting her. It all goes south when Charlie is murdered and she is now a suspect. She's eventually cleared but then her son is taken. Once she realizes who took him she has to get him back without alerting the police. Alerting them could harm him and would end her life as the hit and run would come out. 

Daisy's sister, Beth, killed Charlie and targeted Catherine by taking Dylan, so that she would go to the police and confess her killing of Daisy. An intense car chase ensues and Catherine crashes, waking in the hospital. She finds out Beth was apprehended and Dylan is safe but she has a spinal injury and nothing will ever be the same. Her soon to be ex says he'd like to come back and take care of her and Dylan and she agrees to forgive him (he had cheated on her).

The book ends with a rehashing of a previous entry where Catherine was remembering the night she hit Daisy. She tells Charlie that her phone battery is dead but it wasn't. She could have called an ambulance but chose not to to save her own life. 

I really disliked the ending. I felt it didn't really wrap anything up. Yes, the woman targeting her was arrested but then Catherine didn't have to take responsibility for the murder of a 5 year old. I don't care if it was 17 years ago. As a mom, I don't know that I could have gotten past that. It is a quick read but I'm not sure if I will read anything else from this author, I will have to play it by ear.