Some thrillers are fun in the moment, and then they disappear from your mind the minute you start the next book.
And then there are thrillers that stalk you.
They sit in your thoughts while you’re making tea. They interrupt you mid-scroll. They replay scenes in your head when you’re trying to sleep. That’s the kind of book The Pact is, at least, that’s what it was for me.
If you’re here for a spoiler-free review of The Pact by Sharon Bolton, plus a quick summary and whether it’s worth adding to your TBR, you’re in the right place.
Short Summary of The Pact by Sharon Bolton (Spoiler-Free)
The Pact begins with a group of bright, talented teenagers standing at the edge of adulthood, close friends with big futures ahead of them. But one terrible incident changes everything. A game goes wrong. Lives are lost. And suddenly, the future they were so sure of becomes something they might not survive.
In the aftermath, one of the friends takes the blame. The rest go free, protected by the story they agree to tell, and bound by a promise they make in return: each of them will owe the person who sacrificed themselves a favor, payable when they’re released.
Fast-forward years later. The person who went to prison is finally free.
And the favors are about to be collected.
That’s all you need to know going in: a buried secret, a long-awaited return, and a friend group about to learn that the past doesn’t stay quiet just because you begged it to.
My Review
⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
This book had me hooked. Like, totally hooked.
I’m not exaggerating when I say I was thinking about it all day, every day, while I was reading it… and I still think about it now. There’s something about the premise that sinks its teeth into you: one friend taking the fall “for the team,” in exchange for favors, and the terrifying question that follows you through every chapter:
Would the group actually fulfill those favors when the time comes?
Because it’s easy to promise loyalty when you’re young and scared and standing in the wreckage of a terrible mistake. It’s much harder to keep that promise when you’ve built a whole adult life on top of it.
The atmosphere is peak
Sharon Bolton doesn’t just write scenes; you feel them. The mood in The Pact is tense and heavy, like the air itself is holding its breath. That claustrophobic, creeping dread is one of the strongest parts of the book, and it’s something readers consistently praise across reviews.
Even in quieter moments, the story never feels “safe.” You’re constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The friendships feel real… and that’s what makes it scary
The bonds between the characters are layered and messy in a way that felt believable. It’s not just “best friends forever.” It’s complicated history, social power, old jealousy, unspoken resentment, and the kind of loyalty that turns toxic when it’s tested.
There’s also an underlying thread about privilege, about who gets protected and who gets sacrificed—which hits harder the more you sit with it.
The pacing is binge-level addictive
This is one of those thrillers where “just one more chapter” becomes your whole personality. It moves, it escalates, and it keeps shifting the ground under your feet.
Why it’s not a full 5 stars for me
The reason one star is missing is simple: I needed answers.
There’s a particular why, the motivation behind someone’s actions, that didn’t feel fully satisfying to me. And I hate loose ends. I don’t mind ambiguity when it’s intentional and earned, but here, I wanted that final emotional click. That last piece that makes you go, Oh. Of course.
And I’m not alone; some readers literally searched for clarity around the ending and the reasoning behind certain choices, which tells you this is a common sticking point.
That said, did it ruin the book? Not at all.
Because the ride? The ride was incredible.
What The Pact does best (and who should read it)
If you love:
- psychological thrillers driven by character dynamics
- dark stories about secrets, guilt, and consequences
- friend-group tension with a “we did something bad” core
- thrillers that feel like a slow-tightening noose
…then The Pact is absolutely worth picking up.
And if your favorite kind of suspense is the kind that lives in conversations, what people don’t say, what they avoid, what they’re hiding behind polite smiles, and this book delivers that in a way that feels sharply observed.
FAQs
Is The Pact by Sharon Bolton worth reading?
If you want a dark, page-turning psychological thriller with a strong premise and a tense atmosphere, yes, especially if you enjoy books where friendships turn into battlegrounds.
Is The Pact very confusing at the end?
Some readers do feel that way, particularly about motivations and “why” certain things happen, enough that people search for answers about the ending.
What are some books like The Pact?
If The Pact hooked you with its dark secrets, toxic friendships, moral fallout, and slow-burn tension, here are great books to read next — each with that same unsettling, character-driven psychological punch:
1. The Lying Game by Ruth Ware
A group of friends reunited years after a shared trauma — and suddenly buried truths sneak back into the open. This one captures that dark friendship + past consequences vibe really well.
2. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
Haunting, emotional, and full of buried secrets that slowly unravel. If you loved the slow-burn tension and character-driven mystery in The Pact, this one will stay with you long after the last page.
3. The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica
Twisty, atmospheric, and morally ambiguous. A missing person mystery that exposes hidden lives and imperfect choices — perfect for readers who like psychological thrillers with messy characters and gripping reveals.
