by Andrea Bartz
First published 2021
Emily finds blood and shattered glass covering the hotel suite floor in the Chilean mountains. Her best friend Kristen stands over a dead backpacker, claiming self-defense after he attacked her. The scene triggers Emily's memory of their previous annual trip, when another backpacker died under similar circumstances. Back in Wisconsin, Emily throws herself into work and a new romance, trying to forget what happened. Kristen arrives unannounced for a surprise visit, forcing Emily to relive their shared violence. Kristen's attempts to maintain their friendship feel increasingly controlling. Emily begins questioning whether these deaths were truly accidents or something far more sinister. She realizes she must choose between protecting her oldest friendship and protecting herself from the dangerous secrets they share.
Genres: suspense, mystery, contemporary, thriller
Vibes: dark, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: friends-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Chile, Wisconsin
Period: Contemporary
304 pages · Hardcover · Ballantine Books
Content warnings: death, violence