by Joan Hess
First published 1996
Claire Malloy receives an unexpected plea from Ronnie, a cousin she barely knows. Three decades ago, as a teenager in Acapulco, Ronnie faced accusations in the death of a Hollywood producer. Now someone threatens to expose secrets from that long-ago tragedy. Claire packs her bags for Mexico, bringing along her daughter Caron for what promises to be anything but a vacation. The trail leads them through a web of old lies and hidden motives as they hunt for a blackmailer who knows too much. Claire must separate truth from decades of cover-ups while navigating the dangers of digging into a case that powerful people want to keep buried. The investigation forces her to confront how far family loyalty should extend and whether some secrets deserve to stay hidden.
Genres: suspense, mystery, thriller
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: family-loyalty, secrets
Setting: Acapulco, Mexico
Period: Decades Ago
256 pages · Hardcover · Dutton Books