First published 2026
Tess Maxwell has spent ten years feeling disconnected from the world since her father Harry died. She grew up loving astronomy and listening to his scientific stories, but something about his death never made sense. When Tess finds a puzzle Harry left for her, she starts digging into secrets her family kept hidden. Her investigation leads her to the Paradox Club, a group of brilliant people who meet in a Manhattan brownstone to protect dangerous knowledge from the world. The club is falling apart as members turn against each other. One member wants to steal their secrets for money and power. Tess discovers her family was involved with the club all along. She becomes caught in their battle for control while trying to learn what really happened to her father. As enemies close in, Tess must face the truth about Harry's work and her own past to solve the mysteries surrounding his death and her identity.
Genres: literary-fiction, mystery, contemporary, adult-fiction, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, introspective, mysterious, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, mystery-box, uncovering-secrets, unreliable-past
Setting: Manhattan, Manhattan brownstone
Period: 21st-century, contemporary
432 pages · Paperback · Hyperion Avenue
Content warnings: death