First published 2009
Addie Downs opens her front door to find Val Adler standing there with blood on her coat and terror in her eyes. Twenty-five years have passed since their friendship shattered during high school. The two women made a pact at age eight to be best friends forever, but tragedy and betrayal tore them apart as teenagers. Val left their small Midwestern town and built a life of fame and fortune. Addie remained behind, her world much smaller. Now Val has returned in desperate circumstances, pulling Addie into an unexpected adventure. The women must rely on each other again, drawing on the bond they forged as children. Together they discover a strength that neither could summon alone, their shared history becoming the foundation for facing whatever brought Val back home covered in someone else's blood.
Genres: friendship, mystery, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Midwest, Small Town
Period: 25 Years Ago, Present Day
368 pages · Hardcover · Atria Books