Part of Duncan Kincaid & Gemma James, book 5
First published 1998
Dr Victoria McClellan sits surrounded by papers and journals, researching the life of poet Lydia Brooke for her biography. Five years have passed since Brooke's death was ruled a suicide, but Victoria cannot accept this conclusion. The deeper she digs into Brooke's final months, the more convinced she becomes that the troubled poet did not take her own life. Victoria reaches out to her ex-husband, a detective, seeking his expertise to uncover the truth behind Brooke's death. But when he agrees to help, devastating news arrives that threatens to derail the investigation entirely. Victoria must navigate her complicated past while pursuing answers about Brooke's fate. The case becomes personal as Victoria discovers parallels between her own struggles and those of the poet she studies. What began as academic research transforms into a quest for justice that will test Victoria's resolve and force her to confront uncomfortable truths about both Brooke's life and her own.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, contemporary, psychological-thriller, academic
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, personal-quest, unreliable-narrator
469 pages · Paperback · Pan Books
Content warnings: depression, suicide