This thriller by Laura Dave had such an intricate, twisty plot...the reveal was a total surprise. No explicit sex or violence--how rare is that?! Just a good psychological thriller. I lived on a houseboat in Seattle for a while so it was fun that this mystery was initially set on a houseboat in Sausalito. Married only a year, Hannah Hall, a much in-demand maker or artisanal furniture, is confused when a teenager comes to her door and hands her a note from Hannah's husband with just 2 words, "Protect her." Hannah has no doubts about who he meant--Owen's 16-year old daughter, Bailey. Owen has also left something for Bailey--a lot of cash. Bailey's mom died when she was young and she is not particularly happy about having a new step-mother. But when Owen fails to answer his phone or come home, and a U.S. Marshal and then the FBI show up at their door, Bailey and Hannah form an uneasy alliance to try and find Owen. They both will learn that the history of Owen and Hannah is a fabrication, but what it's hiding will be a painful surprise. How Hannah resolves the threat to Bailey is a bittersweet exploration of love.
The New York Journal of Books offers a detailed plot review and concludes with, "This fast-paced novel is a nail-biting suspenseful story, dealing with
family relationships, love, devotion, personal sacrifices, and the
chances parents must take sometimes to save their children from evil." Kirkus notes that "what really drives the story is the evolving nature of Hannah and
Bailey’s relationship, which is by turns poignant and frustrating but
always realistic" and concludes with "a solid page turner."
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