by Andrew Gross
First published 2009
Karen Friedman's world collapses when her husband Charles dies in a terrorist attack at Grand Central Station. Left to raise three children alone, she initially finds comfort knowing Charles, a successful financier, left enough money to secure their future. Then mysterious figures arrive at her door demanding information about millions of dollars that Charles controlled before they vanished. The threats escalate as Karen discovers all of Charles's money has disappeared. Her husband was involved in far more dangerous activities than she knew. While watching a news report about the bombing, Karen spots what she believes is Charles among the survivors. Convinced her husband faked his death, Karen must protect her family from the dangerous men hunting him. She finds an unlikely ally in Detective Ty Hauck, who is investigating a case that also involved Charles. As Karen enters a deadly spiral of violence and pursuit, she confronts a disturbing question about how well we truly know the people we love most.
Genres: crime, contemporary, action, mystery-thriller
Vibes: dark, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Grand Central Station, New York
Period: 21st-century
416 pages · Paperback · Umbriel
Content warnings: death, violence