Title: The Night Before
Author: Wendy Walker
Published: May 2019, St. Martin’s Press
Format: ARC Paperback, 320 pages
Source: Publisher
Summary:
First dates can be murder.
Riveting and compulsive, national bestselling author Wendy Walker’s The Night Before
“takes you to deep, dark places few thrillers dare to go” as two
sisters uncover long-buried secrets when an internet date spirals out of
control.
Laura Lochner has never been lucky in love. She
falls too hard and too fast, always choosing the wrong men. Devastated
by the end of her last relationship, she fled her Wall Street job and
New York City apartment for her sister’s home in the Connecticut suburb
where they both grew up. Though still haunted by the tragedy that’s
defined her entire life, Laura is determined to take one more chance on
love with a man she’s met on an Internet dating site.
Rosie Ferro
has spent most of her life worrying about her troubled sister. Fearless
but fragile, Laura has always walked an emotional tightrope, and Rosie
has always been there to catch her. Laura’s return, under mysterious
circumstances, has cast a shadow over Rosie’s peaceful life with her
husband and young son – a shadow that grows darker as Laura leaves the
house for her blind date.
When Laura does not return home the
following morning, Rosie fears the worst. She’s not responding to calls
or texts, and she’s left no information about the man she planned to
meet. As Rosie begins a desperate search to find her sister, she is not
just worried about what this man might have done to Laura. She’s worried
about what Laura may have done to him…
My thoughts: I have been a fan of Wendy Walker’s books since first reading All is Not Forgotten. She has such a way of telling a story that just pulls you in. I was completely captivated with this story – a most basic premise that was turned upside down in only the way Wendy Walker can do!
I loved the way this story is told – we have two narrators and a few different time periods and it all comes together to not only hook you into this story, but to keep you guessing as to where it is all going. The story alternates between Laura’s point of view from the night before, Laura from a few months ago, and Rosie’s point of view the next day. I was engrossed in all three viewpoints and every time I thought I had worked out a clue, I was proved wrong – which is fine by me. I like when I am kept on my toes the entire time and believe me, this is one book that will absolutely keep you guessing until the very end!
I also loved the pace of this book. It moves fast. You can’t help but flip through those pages, desperate to figure out what the heck is going on. I love books like that. This is one where you really don’t want to put it down once you start it, so be forewarned!
This book will have you questioning the characters and their motives. It will have you questioning who two sisters, who grew up in the same household, could be so different. It’s a thrilling, addictive read that I highly recommend and I cannot wait to see what is next from this talented author!
Thank you for the review. Sounds very intriguing.