by Amelia Gray
First published 2012
David discovers his wife's body but cannot determine what killed her. As he struggles to understand her death, he uncovers a series of threatening messages concealed in bizarre locations throughout their home. One message hides in the sugar bag. Another appears carved into his television. The threats grow more elaborate and disturbing, containing phrases like "UP ON MY LAP. LET ME BRUSH YOUR HAIR WITH MY FINGERS. I AM SINGING YOU A LULLABY. I AM TESTING FOR STRUCTURAL WEAKNESS IN YOUR SKULL." Detective Chico arrives to investigate, bombarding David with questions he cannot answer and introducing him to people who seem hostile to both David and his deceased wife. With no allies, David must depend on his own memory and judgment to solve the mystery. But his mental faculties begin failing him just when he needs them most. The threatening messages may hold the key to understanding his wife's death, but they also push David deeper into a world where nothing feels reliable.
Genres: mystery, crime, contemporary, psychological-thriller
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: unreliable-narrator
233 pages · Kindle Edition · FSG Originals
Content warnings: mental-illness