by Lisa Jewell
First published 2025
Nina Swann opens a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, who claims friendship with her recently deceased husband. Nick appears refined and charming, with an easy smile and graceful manners. Nina finds herself drawn to his attention during her grief. Her adult daughter Ash sees through Nick's polished exterior. Something about him strikes her as false. Against her mother's wishes, Ash investigates Nick's background and discovers disturbing information. Meanwhile, in a nearby town, florist Martha grows suspicious of her husband Alistair's frequent business trips. He offers reasonable explanations for his absences, but Martha senses deception. The three women circle toward a devastating revelation about the man who has entered their lives. Each will learn that some people should never be trusted, no matter how convincing they appear.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
361 pages · Hardcover · Atria Books
Content warnings: domestic-violence