Imperfect Lives: A Novel

by C. J. Washington

Overview

From the author of The Intangible comes a powerful story of double lives, hidden truths, and the desire to have the perfect life, no matter the price.

When contract killer Cooper Franklin makes a deathbed confession, his revelations upend the lives of two strangers, setting them on an intersecting and ruinous path that imperils them both.

Widow and single mom Tamara Foster must reckon with the mystery of her late husband’s death and the secrets he left behind. As she digs deeper into his past to discover that she never truly knew him at all, her carefully reconstructed world begins to crumble all over again.

Cindy Fremont has worked hard for the perfect life, and she’s working even harder to keep it. So when Tamara shows up at her door seeking answers about her husband’s past, Cindy must reexamine the tracks she thought she’d carefully covered.

As the two women scramble to keep their lives together in the wake of Cooper’s confession, they soon realize that no matter how deeply the past is buried, it can always come back to find you.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781662508066
Publisher:	Amazon Publishing
Publication date:	09/05/2023
Pages:	348
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

C. J. Washington is a data scientist and writer. He has a master’s degree in computer science from the Georgia Institute of Technology and lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and daughter.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for C. J. Washington

“C. J. Washington’s Imperfect Lives is an absorbing, cleverly plotted literary thriller that reveals a shocking connection between two strangers after an artist–cum–hit man’s deathbed confession. Washington keeps masterful control of the psychological tension throughout the novel, twisting the narratives into a taut and unforgettable ending.” —Chris Cander, author of A Gracious Neighbor

“A quiet study in how long of a shadow the unfinished business of the past can throw. Methodically, we see the lengths people go to maintain the appearance of a normal existence despite the truth being entirely different. The dialogue and step by step revelations of each character’s backstory drew me in. An engaging, provocative read.” —Colleen van Niekerk, author of A Conspiracy of Mothers

“The Intangible is a fascinating story about a rare condition known as phantom pregnancy that had me spellbound from the start. Washington writes with great humanity, and I found myself rooting for his deftly crafted characters, who show just what it means to love and to long and to pick yourself up from the wreckage of a failed life to stagger on to something more. Inspirational and beautifully written, this is a story I will not soon forget.” —Suzanne Redfearn, #1 Amazon bestselling author of In an Instant

“In this excellent and emotional debut, C. J. Washington creates highly intriguing portraits of two grieving women: one dealing with a psychological condition that tricks her body into thinking she’s pregnant and the other hoping her brilliant math can find the string in the universe that will allow her to talk to the dead. Well grounded in research and full of twists, The Intangible is like the beautiful math equation it works to solve—complex, fascinating, the answers to life’s impossible mysteries within reach.” —Julia Heaberlin, bestselling author of We Are All the Same in the Dark and Black-Eyed Susans

“Washington’s first novel is a brilliant portrait of human behavior, specifically how the mind evolves and devolves through time. This performance cements Washington as a powerful new force in fiction.” —Booklist (starred review), on The Intangible

From the Publisher