Girls Without Tears: A Novel

by T. L. Finlay

Overview

A missing child, a distraught mother, and a killer on the loose set the stage for a brutal bloodbath in the Florida Everglades in this thrilling read, perfect for fans of Wendy Walker and Megan Goldin.

When six-year-old Skye disappears from Everglades City, Noa is hesitant to return to her hometown to help with the search effort. Skye is the daughter of Noa’s ex, Zack, and Taylor, the girl he dumped her for. Going home also means facing the townspeople who have always misunderstood Noa’s medical condition, Congenital Insensitivity to Pain, and dealing with more of their ignorant comments.

But returning home is just the beginning of Noa's painful journey. When her childhood friend, Jamie, is assaulted by a vagrant, Noa intervenes in a violent counterattack—and the man’s fingerprints are found near Skye’s DNA. As Noa gets closer to the truth of who kidnapped Skye, she starts to uncover secrets about her hometown that she didn’t expect.

Nothing and no one are what they seem in this small Florida backwater—and any good friend can quickly become a deadly enemy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781639100804
Publisher:	CROOKED LANE BOOKS
Publication date:	08/09/2022
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.75(w) x 8.53(h) x 1.13(d)

About the Author

Traci Finlay grew up in the Midwest and transplanted to Florida for college. She received a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts with a minor in English, met and married the love of her life and moved to Miami, where they currently live with their two teenage sons and three smart-mouthed dogs.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Girls Without Tears:
“[Finlay] captures the beauty, nuances and danger of living close to nature.”
—South Florida Sun Sentinel

“Twists and turns around every corner . . . Readers of psychological suspense thrillers will absolutely love the characters and storyline.”
—Manhattan Book Review

“Edgy. Atmospheric. A book you won't soon forget.” 
—Tarryn Fisher, New York Times bestselling author of The Wives

“I devoured Girls Without Tears in a matter of days! A unique and fresh plot with perfectly flawed characters, and twists you won’t see coming. I sacrificed so much sleep to devour this novel. You won’t be able to put it down once you start it.” 
—Shanora Williams, New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Before

“A bone-chilling thriller set in the Everglades full of suspense and hauntingly surprising twists.”
—Claire Contreras, New York Times bestselling author of the Secret Society series

“A compelling protagonist, atmospheric setting and a dark, dark plot—Girls Without Tears pulls you in from the first page and will keep you captivated right until the twisted end.”
—Sherri Smith, bestselling author of Follow Me Down

“Girls Without Tears is an intense, all-consuming read that had me quickly flipping the pages, desperate to know what would happen next. Buckle up for a wild ride. When the daughter of Noa’s ex goes missing, she returns to her hometown to assist in the search. Finlay explores the complicated feelings and relationships with those of our past with an authenticity I could relate to. The intriguing plot and expert pacing kept me moving swiftly through the story. I didn’t know who or what to believe, and my predictions were often wrong. Every time I thought I knew something, it was flipped on his head, leaving me reeling. The twist at the end was to die for…literally. You won’t want to miss this one!”
—Amber Garza, author of A Mother Would Know

“Tense, exciting, and full of twists, Girls Without Tears will keep you turning the pages until the shocking end. This gripping tale of love, friendship and betrayal in a small Florida community features an intriguing cast of characters led by a unique protagonist with a rare medical condition. A must read!”
—Daniela Petrova, author of Her Daughter’s Mother

“Wow. This fast paced, original and utterly gripping thriller by T.L. Finlay should come with a warning: remember to breathe. Better yet, schedule regular reminders because you will be holding your breath. Clever, original, terrifying in parts and diabolically well plotted, every time I thought I knew what was coming another adrenaline rush of a twist knocked that thought right out of me. With a funny, badass female protagonist to boot, you won’t know whether to scream or laugh or cry, but you’ll be flipping pages.”
—Natalie Barelli, author of The House Keeper

From the Publisher

2022-05-11
A public relations manager with a rare malady is called back to the home she put behind her to help someone she never wants to see again.

Back in high school, Zack Flynn may have been Noa Romwell’s one and only, but she clearly wasn’t his, as he showed when he took her virginity and then left her for beautiful Taylor Spells. Now karma has turned on Zack and Taylor, whose 6-year-old daughter, Skye, has disappeared. After leaving Everglades City for Miami specifically to get away from Zack, Noa is in no mood to go back. But her parents, who run the Bramble Rose B&B, wear her down, and soon she’s left South Beach for her hometown to help with the search for Skye. Zack’s so distracted that it’s hard to get close to him, and Taylor is still Taylor. That leaves Jamie Camden, Zack’s best friend in high school and more recently Skye’s godfather, and Noa finds herself warming to him once again. One big obstacle stands in the way of their renewed friendship, though: Noa’s announcement that she’s been cured of congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis even though no one ever is cured of CIPA. If it doesn't sound so bad to be unable to weep or sweat or feel pain, rest assured that Finlay has pointed out dozens of ways Noa’s disorder will have consequences that range from inconvenient to life-threatening. Be warned: Some of her adventures may be even more trying to her readers, like the second time she gets knocked out and locked up.

A so-so mystery upstaged by the determined heroine it’s clearly designed to showcase.

Kirkus Reviews