Rebecca Drake's newest novel will be released tomorrow, January 9. And this is a book you are going to want to pick up.
What would you do for your friends? How far would you go to protect them? In this emotional thriller, Drake looks at the friendship between four women and just what they will do to protect one of their own.
Alison, Julie, Sarah and Heather are living the ideal suburban life. They meet for coffee after dropping their kids off at school and for the most part enjoy happy, mundane suburban lives. Until one day Alison notices a bruise on Heather's wrist. Then things start to unravel and this book really gets going.
I'll admit that it took me a bit to get into this book. But that's probably because I'm not really excited by happy, mundane suburban lives. I like my life to be happy, yes, but with a bit more than just kids and coffee. But I also understand the reasoning behind Drake's character development within mundane suburbia. Because stuff like what happens in this novel just doesn't happen in mundane suburbia. So give the novel a chance to realyl grab you about 1/4 of the way in. I did find her characterization to be quite good. I kept thinking during this early section of the book that I would like to know more about these women, but you will find out more and the story progresses. And those revelations just add to the suspended and mystery of the novel.
In the novel we hear from each of the four women and their views on the events that unfold. Alison has noticed the bruise on Heather's wrist and we gather that Alison has had some sort of past experience with domestic violence. As the other three women debate what I think is something hotly debated among any circle of friends, should they intervene or not, they notice that Heather seemingly is a victim of domestic violence and the wrist bruise isn't just a one time thing. Heather's behavior becomes erratic and the women start questioning what they know about their friend's marriage. They start to encourage her to leave her husband, Viktor, a highly respected surgeon, but Heather refuses.
Heather's friends worry that the day will come when Heather winds up dead. But it's Viktor who ends up dead.
Alison, Julie and Sarah decide they will do whatever it takes to help Heather. But is that a good decision? They are putting themselves and their families on the line to help a friend. Does she deserve their help? How far is too far to go? Do you really know the people you call friends?
Once the story really got going, I couldn't put it down. I love trying to read between the lines and figure out a mystery before the author reveals the truth. And in this case I figured some things out and was completely surprised by others. The questions the novel raises will make you look at your own friends a little closer.
What is your favorite Rebecca Drake book or what thriller are you reading now? Leave a comment below!
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