The Shape of Darkness by Laura Purcell

With the camera becoming less of a novelty, Agnes’s living as a silhouette artist is in grave danger. But there are still those who appreciate a deft hand and talents such as she once possessed. Once being the key. Because even Agnes’s skills aren’t what they used to be. 

And then Agnes’s waning clientele begin to meet with unsavory ends. 

Afraid that someone will draw the connection to the recent murders and Agnes, she vows to find out all that she can. So her stumbling upon Pearl is fortuitous. 

Pearl is making a name for herself as the White Sylph, a medium of incomparable talents. And it seems she truly can reach those on the other side. But her controlling sister is just one of many hurdles Agnes will have to cross in order to get the answers she so desperately wants. 

As the killer strikes again and again, Agnes is certain someone is actively targeting her clients. But can she do anything to stop it?

Any fan of gothic lit who hasn't discovered Laura Purcell is truly missing out!

In this latest, the Victorian era truly comes alive. First, it's set amidst the Crimea War, which I admittedly know nothing about. And yet, Purcell is able to imbue the story with the grim realities facing a nation at war so that it's easy to feel the effects. 

More than that, this is an England on the brink of new technologies. A time of change, but one that's still mired in the grime and habits of the older industries, including understandable hesitancy around medicine and the embracing of the paranormal. I say grime in particular because of the grim differences between Agnes's world and Pearl's. 

Agnes is on a precipice. She's never married, she's recently suffered health setbacks, and the means by which she makes a living is literally a dying industry. She lives comfortably, but barely. The tea tins are empty too often and the attention that has to be paid to heating the house and such is a careful one that isn't always pleasant. At any moment, she could lose her footing on her relatively safe life. 

At the same time, just walking distance from Agnes's home is Pearl's apartment. And the differences are literally night and day! 

Pearl's home is dark and dank. Her mother died in childbirth leaving Pearl and her half sister in the care of Pearl's father who can no longer work in the match factory where he made his living. But Pearl's sister is training herself in mesmerism and Pearl herself has a talent that brings attention and much needed coin.

The meeting of Agnes and Pearl is a bit fated, all things considered. The widow of the first client murdered attends a seance held by Pearl. But there's way more to it than that!

As with all of Purcell's books, there's the possibility of a paranormal influence but there's an equally possible scientific explanation as well. And I guess it's up to you as the reader to choose which version to take away from the story. 

I quite enjoy the uncertainty! It's one of my favorite aspects of Purcell's writing (I choose to go with the paranormal explanations myself!).

Order a copy from your favorite indie via Bookshop!

The Woman in the Wood by M.K. Hill

Good morning, readers! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for M.K. Hill's latest DI Sasha Dawson mystery, The Woman in the Wood. 

Three years ago, nineteen year old Rhiannon Jenkins went missing. Witnesses last saw her with four men: reality star Danny "Abs" Cruikshank, Andrew "Deano" Dean, Jeremy "Jez" Weston, and Tony Gardner, who had been vacationing in Wales. And although no evidence of wrongdoing has ever been found, simply being associated with the story meant something of a downfall for Abs in particular. 

Now, however, Deano is dead. And it doesn't look to be an accident either. Tony is convinced that he's being followed, which is enough for him to call a meeting with the other two. Could it be that someone knows what happened that night? But if so, why have they waited so long to exact their revenge?

Sasha Dawson is part of the team investigating Deano's death and it's clear from the start this is murder. The man was killed by a train, and completely drunk, true. But he also had acid in his eyes and burns consistent with a cattle prod. Which matches the train conductor's statement that he'd seen someone with a walking stick on the train platform. 

But for Sasha, this case is more than just Deano's murder. It's uncovering what happened three years ago as well. 

So let me start off by saying that although this is technically the second book in a series, you don't have to have read the first book in order to sink into this one. Which is perfect because I myself have not yet read the first book, The Bad Place. 

That said, I so enjoyed this book by Hill that I abs (sorry, had to do it) will be seeking out book 1 and book 3 when it's released as well!

The book alternates between various points of view (starting with Deano's but mostly focusing on Sasha and Abs) and timelines so that the reader gets the full perspective of the present day investigation while also getting pieces of what happened three years ago. Although it is known from the outset that the men are guilty of something, the revelation of the exact what, why, is teased out as the story progresses. 

I found myself truly unable to tear away from this one and I did not see the twist coming at all! This was a great mystery and I'm really looking forward to reading more from Hill. 

The Woman in the Wood is an excellent police procedural, perfect for readers who love intricate and careful plotting and great characters! It's out now from Head of Zeus.

The Chateau by Catherine Cooper

Good morning, everyone! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Catherine Cooper's The Chateau!

Aura and Nick are looking for a new start. And that's exactly what the chateau in France is going to offer them. With plans to renovate and refurbish the crumbling manse into a flashy B&B, the two have picked up and moved their family and lives to a new country where everything is full of promise. And, most importantly, no one knows about the what happened in London. 

But things are weird in the new house. Their toddler cries at night saying he hears voices and their electronic assistant goes off at random intervals. The locals, or other expats actually, are friendly enough but the move hasn't been as easy as Aura expected. 

But it all starts to come to a head when they attend the fancy Halloween party. Before the night is over, someone is dead. And it soon becomes clear that Aura and Nick didn't leave their troubled past behind at all. 

Ooh, I'm always down for family secrets and suspense!

Catherine Cooper's latest (my first by her, though The Chalet is queued up in my TBR as we speak!) puts a young couple in the middle of an absolute nightmare! 

Aura and Nick are struggling. It all started ages ago. Aura, a full-time stay at home mom, was close to her breaking point. Childcare wasn't part of the budget, but she found a way to make it work and go back to school. A career, a second income, and a chance to feel like herself again. 

But that's when the trouble really started. 

No one knows them in France. No one knows about their past. It's a real chance to leave all of it behind and begin again. Repair their marriage, be better parents, all of that. Except Aura still isn't exactly happy. 

We spend the first portion of the book completely with Aura and her POV. And she keeps their little secret way under wraps! And then we get to Nick's POV and some things start to become much clearer. 

I won't tell you any more. I don't want to give it away. And we don't find out who the body is right away either, which makes the pacing of this one both infuriating and fun! 

Don't worry, the pacing is absolutely perfect! Yes, I was dying to know what happened at the party and who died and why and how! I was also dying to know exactly what happened in London! And then who could have been out for Aura and Nick! 

Readers, I loved it!

Note: This one is out in the UK now and will release in the States in January. 

Black Reed Bay by Rod Reynolds

Happy Tuesday, readers! Today I'm a stop on the Random Things tour for Rod Reynolds's latest, Black Reed Bay!

Tina Grace's call to 911 is disturbing, to say the least. She claimed someone was trying to kill her as she ran through an exclusive neighborhood, begging for help. 

When Casey Wray and her partner arrive on the scene they're met with the seemingly confused man Tina spent her evening with and an array of neighbors who heard the commotion and called the police as well. Unfortunately, none of them are able to offer much help as they refused to open their doors to the desperate woman. And Tina hasn't been seen since. 

The case is an odd one, to be sure. None of the statements line up and Wray is certain the main witness is lying. But about what and why?

But the case takes a truly shocking turn when they find the first body. And unfortunately, it won't be the last!

Folks, Orenda really does have a penchant for publishing some of the most amazing fiction out there! 

Black Reed Bay kicks off a new series featuring Casey Wray, a character who grabs your attention from the very start of this twisty thriller!

Casey is single and too busy for anything other than work. Which is probably why she's so good at her job AND why she was fast tracked for promotion. She's dogged and determined, and the kind of character perfect for leading a series!

Black Reed Bay definitely kept me guessing. And it kept me up all night reading as well! (That's your warning, if you start this one at bedtime, you're going to be up late!)

This is my introduction to Rod Reynolds's work and I cannot wait to read more! His backlist should keep me busy until I can get my hands on the next Casey Wray mystery :)

Fun fact: (and some true crime fans might actually figure this out for themselves) In the Afterword of the book, the author reveals that the inspiration behind the plot is actually the Long Island Serial Killer. 

Black Reed Bay is out in the UK now and will be available in the States in January

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

Good morning, everyone! Today I’m a stop on the Random Things tour for Paula Hawkins’s latest, A Slow Fire Burning.

Daniel Sutherland is dead. When the body is found, there’s no question he’s been murdered. And the prime suspect is a woman who admits she spent the night with him. She has a temper and lashes out. She’s got a cut on her arm and the man’s watch in her possession. But, as it turns out, the case is most definitely not as clear cut as that. 

I think by now readers know that Paula Hawkins pens the twistiest of thrillers and this is no exception. 

From the start, the reader is introduced to a number of characters, but there are three standouts: Laura, the prime suspect; Miriam, the dead man’s neighbor; and Carla, the dead man’s aunt.

Laura is odd. Miriam notes that people call her Mad Laura, and the reason is explained soon enough. She works in a launderette, doesn’t get along with her step mother, and does act somewhat inappropriately depending on the circumstances. But is she a murderer? Could she have fallen into a rage and killed Daniel after they hooked up?

Miriam herself is someone who seems to be an acquired taste. She spies on the comings and goings of her neighbors—most of whom are temporary, and she’s sure to remind them if they overstay their welcome. She’s the one who found the body. And as it is soon revealed, she has a reason to relish in the attention and power the investigation gives her. But are her motives deeper? Maybe she killed Daniel. 

Carla is Daniel’s aunt. In fact, her own sister, Daniel’s mother, passed away shortly before the book begins. She was seen (by Miriam) visiting Daniel just before he was murdered. And her own story is complicated by a tragedy that could very well be a motive for murder. 

A Slow Fire Burning is somewhat true to its name in that the plot unfolds at a very deliberate pace. And while clues are certainly thrown our way, I found, true to Hawkins’s previous books, that I really couldn’t unravel the mystery on my own. 

I actually love a slow burn! There, I said it! I love to sink into a story and really get to know the characters. Slow burns can get a bit of a bad rap, but I think that’s mostly due to the author’s inability to create a fully rounded story. Careful plotting, excellent characters and world building, and pacing that feels natural, whether that be slow or fast, are all elements, regardless of genre or audience, that are part of the writing craft. Done well, a slow burn can be quite enjoyable. But if all of those pieces don’t come together, the pacing can absolutely feel plodding. 

So what’s the deal with A Slow Fire Burning? In my opinion, Hawkins gets all the pieces just right! (Though I do want to mention, really so many characters! It took me a bit to wrap my head around who was who in this story.)

A Slow Fire Burning is even more proof that Paula Hawkins is an exemplary talent! 

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

Happy book birthday week to Catherine Ryan Howard whose latest, 56 Days, released this week from Blackstone!

56 days ago, Ciara and Oliver struck up a conversation outside of the store. They went to coffee, scheduled a date, then another...

It was the beginning of something. 

But then, thanks to Covid, everything shut down. With rules that would prevent them from seeing one another—and seeing where this new budding relationship might go—they decided to move in together and ride out the lockdown as a pair. 

Not even two months later, though, one of them is dead. 

It was the smell that prompted the call to the police. And now, amidst a global pandemic, the investigators must determine exactly what happened. 

The Covid times have sucked. And I am definitely one of those people who doesn't want any reminder of it all. And yet, this is admittedly the kind of premise that I will make an exception for. Because it is a premise that fits, without question, with those early days. 

What would happen if you met someone you liked just days before the shutdown? Most places had restrictions that limited interaction to those within your household. I, fortunately, have a family of my own. But there are plenty of people who have been alone. And I can absolutely see craving a connection so badly that you would rush into something in order to have that connection during such an awful time. 

But that's not all that's going on here!

Oliver wants a chance to build a relationship with Ciara without outside influence! 

I really loved Ciara and Oliver—and Lee as well. The story plays out in such a way that the reader is almost continuously having to revise their notions about exactly who these characters are and what motivates them (except Lee, she's a detective and her motivations are clear from the beginning). 

Chapters alternate between in timeline, bouncing between Ciara and Oliver's meeting, their moving in together, the investigation, and even prior to their meeting as the plot unfolds. And POVs switch between Ciara, Oliver, and Lee. And it's done in such a way that it doesn't hamper the pacing at all! Which I also LOVE!

56 Days won't be for everyone simply by way of it being set in the early Covid days. But if you're intrigued by the premise, as I was, you'll love this latest from Catherine Ryan Howard. I'm pretty excited to dive into her backlist now that I've met her work :)

Order a copy from your favorite indie via Bookshop!

Where I Left Her by Amber Garza - Excerpt

Happy Tuesday! Today I get to share a sneak peek at Amber Garza's upcoming release, Where I Left Her! 

But first, here's a bit about the book from the publisher:

Whitney had some misgivings when she dropped her increasingly moody teenage daughter off for a sleepover last night. She's never met the friend's parents, and usually she'd go in, but Amelia clearly wasn't going to let something so humiliating happen, so instead she waved to her daughter before pulling away from the cute little house with the rosebushes in front.

But when she goes back to get her, an elderly couple answers the door--Amelia and her friend are nowhere to be found, and this couple swears she's at the wrong house. As Whitney searches for Amelia, she uncovers a trail of secrets and lies her daughter has told her--from Finsta accounts to rumors of a secret relationship. Does she really even know this girl she's raised, and can she find her before it's too late?

I really enjoyed last summer's When I Was You (you can read my review here), so I cannot wait to dive into Garza's latest! And thanks to the publisher, I've got an excerpt to get us all started!

1

FRIDAY, 5:00 P.M.

DROP-OFF

WHITNEY WANTED TO get rid of her daughter.

How awful is that?

Not forever, of course, but for the night. She was weary of the sixteen-year-old attitude. The rolling of eyes, stomping of feet, the judging glances and biting remarks.

That’s why she wasn’t paying as much attention as she should’ve been when dropping Amelia off at Lauren’s. Her mind was back in their apartment, her butt planted on the couch, bare feet propped on the table, a pint of ice cream in her lap.

“The destination is on your right.” She turned the steering wheel, following the instructions given by the disembodied voice of the GPS in her daughter’s phone. Amelia held it up, giving the illusion that her palm was talking. The house in front of them was nondescript. A tract home, painted tan with beige trim, a cream door, two large windows overlooking the narrow front walkway. The only thing that set it apart from the others was the row of rosebushes lining the left perimeter of the yard, scarlet red petals and thorny, jagged stems.


Whitney pulled her car over, tires hugging the curb.

Amelia hopped out the minute her mother’s foot pressed down on the brakes, as if she was desperate to be free of her.

“You sure this is her house?” Whitney asked.

Amelia shrugged, glancing down at her phone and then back up. “This is the address she gave me.” Her tone was impatient, irritated. That’s how she’d been lately. Distant and moody. Everything her mom said and did annoyed her.

Originally, she’d planned to walk Amelia up to the front door and meet Lauren’s mom. But on the way over here, Amelia had begged her not to do that, pointing out that she was no longer a little girl.

As much as Whitney hated to admit it, she could see her point. Amelia was sixteen. As soon as she finished her driver’s training and passed her test, she’d be driving on her own and then Whitney wouldn’t even have the option of dropping her off at her friend’s. It was time she learned to let go, loosen the death grip a little.

Instead of following her daughter, Whitney stayed inside the car, watching through the smudged glass of the passenger-side window. Amelia’s dark hair swished down her spine as she sped to the front door. When she reached it, she readjusted the blue overnight bag that was secured on her shoulder while lifting her other hand to knock.

Lauren appeared in the doorway, flashing a smile at Amelia. She wore a pink headband that made her look much younger than seventeen. Amelia peered over her shoulder before stepping forward, her lips curling at the corners as she threw her mom another wave. It was the largest grin Whitney had gotten in days, and she welcomed it, grabbed hold of it and then gave it back.

After watching them both disappear inside, Whitney pulled away from the curb. Without even looking in the rearview mirror, she sped toward her night of freedom, dreaming of a couch to herself and a movie Amelia couldn’t make fun of.

SATURDAY, 10:00 A.M.

SEVENTEEN HOURS AFTER DROP-OFF

Whitney had been up for hours, and still hadn’t heard from Amelia. Last night was restful. Quiet. Peaceful. All the things Whitney had wanted it to be. Much needed. But this morning she was suffering from a serious case of mom guilt. She missed her daughter. Was anxious for her to come home, attitude and all. Unlocking her phone, she shot her a quick text: Ready for me to pick you up?

Even after several minutes, no response came. Not that she was shocked. When Amelia had friends over, they stayed up all night giggling and talking. No matter how many times Whitney would remind them to keep it down, within minutes their muffled voices would return, drifting through the adjoining bedroom wall. Most likely, she’d done the same at Lauren’s and they were both still asleep.

The house smelled like Saturday morning—coffee, creamer, maple syrup.

French toast had been a weekend tradition for years. When Amelia was little, she’d wake up early and bound into her mom’s bedroom, eager for breakfast. But lately it seemed Whitney ate alone more often than not. Even when Amelia was home, there was no guarantee she’d join her. Amelia lived in her room, earbuds perpetually plugged in her ears, as if she’d grown another extremity. Still, Whitney couldn’t bring herself to stop the tradition altogether. The French toast would get eaten, even if it took a couple of days. Whitney didn’t mind leftovers, anyway. Not that she had many this morning. She’d gone for an extra-long jog and had been ravenous.

After cleaning up the kitchen, Whitney went back into her phone and clicked on the Snapchat app. Amelia may have been quiet around the house lately, but she had no problem sharing her life with the rest of the world. Whitney expected to be greeted by smiling selfies of her and Lauren, maybe some photos of the food they were eating, proof to all the other teenagers on social media that they were having a blast on their Friday night together. But nothing had been posted on her story in the last twenty-four hours.

With slick fingertips, Whitney closed out of Snapchat and checked Instagram. Nothing there either. A chill brushed over her neck, causing the hairs to stand on end. She shook the feeling away with an abrupt jerk of her head. Whitney had always been like this. Anxious. A worrier, especially when it came to Amelia. Perpetually thinking the worst. Amelia hated it. So had her ex-husband. It was one of the many things they fought about. And it was probably one of many reasons why Dan had ended up marrying that sunny, smiling, high-pitched preschool teacher. If Whitney had to take a guess, she’d say there were no skeletons in Miss Karen’s closet. No past indiscretions she was afraid of coming to light. No monsters from her past lurking around the corner.

No secret buried inside, so deep the roots had become invisible.

When Dan married Karen, Whitney remembered thinking how he had succeeded in finding someone completely opposite from her, just like he said he would. It didn’t take him long either. He’d met Karen less than a year after they’d split up. He and Karen were friends for a while, and then dated for several years before marrying.

That was how he always defended it.

We were friends first.

We took it slow.

But that was never the point. He should have made Amelia his priority. Whitney hadn’t dated at all while Amelia was growing up—she’d only started within the last couple of years. Once Amelia hit high school and started having a life of her own, Whitney figured it was time she did too.

Leaning against the counter, she stared out the kitchen window. There wasn’t a view. The window overlooked the apartment across the way. A man stood in his kitchen, his back to Whitney as he drank coffee. His build vaguely reminded Whitney of Jay, and it made her smile.

Going into her last text thread with him, she typed, I miss you.

Then she bit her lip. Too forward? Too soon?

They’d been dating for a couple of months, and he’d only been on an overnight business trip. He was returning later today. She didn’t want to come on too strong.

Backspace. Delete. She tried again: Hope your trip was good.

Too formal?

Whitney paused, thinking.

Why am I making this so hard?

She really liked Jay. That was the problem. He was the first guy in a long time she felt hopeful about. Usually by month two of dating someone, the red flags popped up and her interest waned. That hadn’t happened yet with Jay.

Turns out, she didn’t need to stress over what to text. Jay beat her to it.

Boarding the plane now. Will call you when I’m back, he texted.

Sounds good, she responded.

It was 10:30. There were a million things on the agenda today and waiting around for Amelia wasn’t one of them.

After hitting the grocery store and Target, Whitney swung by Lauren’s, using the memory of how they’d gotten there yesterday as her guide. It was a little tricky, since she hadn’t paid enough attention to Amelia’s directions yesterday, but after a few minutes of circling the neighborhood, she came upon a familiar street and turned on it. A couple of houses in, she recognized the rosebushes.

It had been well over an hour since she’d sent the last text to Amelia. Although there hadn’t been any response yet, Whitney was sure she was up by now. Probably hoping to buy more time with her friend.

Whitney had gotten Amelia a bag of gummy worms. She pulled it out of one of the grocery bags. It crinkled as she set it on the passenger seat. Amelia probably wouldn’t even eat them. Certainly, they didn’t fit within the parameters of her latest diet, but, still, Whitney couldn’t resist. Whitney’s habit of picking up treats at the store had started back when Amelia was a toddler, when she’d surprised her with a bag of cookies one afternoon when picking her up from preschool. Whitney would never forget how wide Amelia’s eyes got, how broad her smile became as she clutched the little bag. A lot of things may have changed between them over the past few years, but Whitney didn’t want that to be one of them.

After getting out of the car, she slipped the key ring around her finger and walked up the front walkway, flip-flops slapping on the pavement. It was a warm, spring day. Kids played outside a few houses down. A lawnmower kicked on. A couple rode their bikes past, bright neon helmets bouncing up and down like beach balls bobbing in the waves. Amelia used to love to ride bikes. For a while, it had been a weekend tradition. Whitney couldn’t remember the last time they’d hit the trails together, but she made a note to ask her about it. Most likely her answer would be a big resounding no, coupled with the same cringey, horrified look she had whenever Whitney suggested they hang out. Still, it was worth a shot. Sometimes Amelia surprised her with a yes, reminding Whitney of the girl she used to be before the teenage monster took over.

When Whitney reached the door, she lifted her hand to knock the same way she’d watched Amelia do the day before. A minute passed and no one answered. That funny feeling returned, but she shoved it down, feeling silly.

She knocked again, this time so hard it stung her knuckles. The girls were probably listening to music or something. Or maybe they were in the backyard. It was a nice day. Ears perked, she listened for the sound of her daughter’s voice or of music playing inside. Hearing neither of those, she frowned.

Finally, Whitney caught the hint of footsteps inside.

The door creaked open, an older woman peering out, eyebrows raised. She looked to be in her late sixties, maybe early seventies.

Whitney was taken aback. She’d never met Lauren’s mom, but there was no way this was her. Maybe Lauren’s grandparents lived with them. Recently, Whitney had watched a news report about how the cost of living had gone up, causing multigenerational homes to become a growing trend. And Lauren had mentioned that her parents were divorced. Whitney knew firsthand how financially taxing it was to raise a child alone.

“Hi, I’m Whitney. Amelia’s mom.” Smiling, Whitney jutted out her hand.

But the elderly woman just stared at it, not saying a word. She glanced over her shoulder where a man around her same age stood. He furrowed his brows and stepped forward. Whitney’s body tensed.

Maybe she’s got dementia or Alzheimer’s or something. Whitney caught the old man’s eyes. “Hi, I’m Amelia’s mom. She spent the night here.”

“Nope. Not here.” Shaking his head, he came closer. “You must have the wrong house. They all kinda look the same in this neighborhood.”

Whitney glanced around. Hadn’t she thought the same thing yesterday? She must’ve turned down the wrong street or something.

Face warming, she backed away from the door. “I’m so sorry to have bothered you.”

“No bother at all,” the man said, and the woman offered a kind smile.

Whitney turned on her heels and made her way back to the car. She turned on the ignition and pulled away from the curb. The couple had already disappeared inside. Whitney drove to the main street and turned right. When she came up on another street, she turned onto it. The man was right. There were lots of houses that looked like theirs. She pulled up in front of one, scanning the yard.

Nope. No roses.

That’s what had set the other house apart. The one she dropped Amelia off at.

She moved farther down the street, carefully looking to the right and to the left, searching for a one-story house, roses lining the perimeter. Coming up empty, she swung the car around. Maybe her mistake had been turning right at the main street.

Backtracking, this time Whitney turned left.

This street was almost identical to the other two she’d just been down. Same tract homes. Manicured lawns. Shuttered windows. A sea of tan paint and beige trim. The odd red door or colorful lawn art. But, again, no roses. At least, not in the correct spot.

Turning onto another street, she finally found it. The simple house. The roses lining the side.

After parking in front, she leaped out and hurried to the front door. It was answered after only a couple of knocks.

She gasped, taking in the elderly man standing in the doorway. The same one she’d just spoken to a few moments ago.

Oh, my God.

She’d ended up right back where she’d started. As she backed away from the door, apologizing profusely, she took in the shuttered windows, the manicured lawn, the roses lining the perimeter of the yard. Peering back at her car, she envisioned Amelia in the front seat holding her phone, the voice of the GPS speaking in her palm.

There was almost no doubt in Whitney’s mind—this was where she’d left her.

Excerpted from Where I Left Her by Amber Garza, Copyright © 2021 by Amber Garza. Published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

About the author: Amber Garza has had a passion for the written word since she was a child making books out of notebook paper and staples. Her hobbies include reading and singing. Coffee and wine are her drinks of choice (not necessarily in that order). She writes while blaring music, and talks about her characters like they're real people. She lives with her husband and two kids in Folsom, California.

Where I Left Her is out 8/24 from Mira. Preorder a copy: Bookshop - Harlequin - Barnes & Noble - Books-A-Million