Part of KEY News, book 9
First published 2006
Caroline Enright arrives at a theatre festival in the Berkshire mountains expecting a peaceful getaway. The Key News critic brings her stepdaughter Meg along, hoping to repair their strained relationship. Instead, the tension between them deepens when two of Meg's friends die in what appears to be an accident. Caroline suspects something darker lurks beneath the surface. Her fears prove correct when a celebrated actress vanishes without a trace. The missing woman has captivated millions of fans, but Caroline realizes one obsessed admirer may have crossed a deadly line. As she investigates, Caroline discovers she has entered the territory of a sociopath who follows no moral code. This killer takes whatever they desire and eliminates anyone who stands in their way. Caroline finds herself trapped in a psychological maze where she cannot trust anyone around her. The murderer hides behind the face of someone familiar, someone who appears normal and trustworthy. Caroline must unmask this predator before becoming the next victim.
Genres: suspense, mystery, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful
Tropes: psychological-cat-and-mouse, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Berkshire Mountains, Key News
Period: Contemporary
421 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press
Content warnings: murder, violence