01/13/2020
At the start of this entertaining yet shallow psychological thriller from bestsellers Hendricks and Pekkanen (The Wife Between Us), lonely temp Shay Miller watches in horror as a stranger, Amanda Evinger, commits suicide by throwing herself off a Manhattan subway platform in front of a moving train. The distraught Shay, who becomes fixated on Amanda, tracks down the young woman’s address and shows up at her memorial service. Shay’s presence attracts the attention of glamorous sisters Jane and Cassandra Moore, whose inner circle of women included Amanda. Jane and Cassandra worry that somehow Amanda confessed to Shay that the women are involved in a kind of vigilante justice in which they inflict revenge on people who may have wronged one of them. Though the story doesn’t delve deep into the characters, the strong plot generates plenty of tension as the sisters befriend Shay and set about remaking her life—all the better to spy on her. Though not up to the standard of the authors’ previous books, this one’s sure to please suspense fans. Agents: Jennifer Rudolph Walsh and Margaret Riley King, WME. (Mar.)
Praise for Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen:
"Slickly twisty [with] gasp-worthy final twists...major league suspense." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Masterfully escalates the suspense...keep[s] the reader guessing until the end. A great follow-up." —Booklist(starred review)
“Psychological suspense is a genre that needs to be handled with kid gloves...Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen seem to have mastered the formula...a creepy-crawly tale.” —New York Times Book Review
03/06/2020
Shay Miller is not having a good day. She's been laid off from her job, her roommate (whom she secretly adores) has a new girlfriend, and on her way to a promising interview, she's the only witness to a woman's suicide at the subway station. More invested than she'll even admit to herself, Shay tries to find out more about the victim. She learns the woman's name and address and ends up at Amanda Evinger's memorial service, where she's befriended by two sisters, Cassandra and Jane Moore. The Moores are beautiful, stylish, and everything Shay wishes she could be. But are they what they seem, and why do they need her friendship so desperately? VERDICT Dynamic duo Hendricks and Pekkanen (The Wife Between Us) bat another one out of the park with this unputdownable, highly recommended thrill ride. [See Prepub Alert, 8/25/19.]—Cynthia Price, Francis Marion Univ. Lib., Florence, SC
2019-12-23
Witnessing a suicide proves almost fatal for the witness herself.
Shay Miller would not have been on that subway platform had she not taken the 22 seconds required to tie up her ponytail. Because she did, she is the sole witness to a suicide that changes her life. But is she stalking the friends of the dead girl, or are they stalking her? It seems to be both, as Hendricks and Pekkanen (An Anonymous Girl, 2019) unfold another one of their intricately plotted, female-focused thrillers. Rage about rape and sexual abuse underlies the plot as Google searches, dating apps, and hacked phones move it forward, making this a thriller of the moment. Here, the evil men are on the sidelines—the women are pitted against each other in a complicated game of cat and mouse. Shay, who is lonely, insecure, and broke, is easily drawn in by the cool and confident Moore sisters, who ply her with beauty makeovers, a "sea-blue leather purse," "a sugar cookie scented Nest candle, with notes of Tahitian vanilla and bourbon infused caramel," and, most devastatingly, the illusion of friendship. But socially awkward, highly observant Shay, who makes her way through life by recording statistics and factoids about human nature in a "Data Book," can only be fooled so long. "Between 73 and 79 percent of homicides during a 15-year period were committed by offenders known to the victim," she notes. Good thing to know. The authors dole out clues in a series of interlocking flashbacks; finally we get the detail that makes the pieces come together, with just a few little issues to argue about in your book club.
Lots of frenzied flipping back and forth for readers who like to figure out the puzzle.
Narrators Dylan Moore and Barrie Kreinik collaborate fittingly together to recount the suspenseful story of lonely, unhappy Shay Miller and her volatile connection with the prosperous Moore sisters. Moore gives life to Shay's character in a way that is both complementary and convincing. She has a gentleness to her voice that emphasizes Shay's naïve demeanor and feelings of alienation. Moore’s harmonious tone allows Shay's character to be more likable and relatable as she perfectly portrays her thoughts and feelings. Barrie Kreinik is stern and brazen when depicting Cassandra and Jane Moore, pairing vocal strength with their abetting and manipulative natures. Using appropriate pacing and effective expression, she hones in on every conniving plan the Moore sisters concoct. Both narrators make this a thrilling listen. D.Z. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine
