Review by Booklist Review
As the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, two partygoers are found dead, impaled on a fence surrounding a magnificent mansion in Edinburgh. Was it a terrible accident or murder? Who are the deceased? How did a renewal-of-vows ceremony and reunion of old friends turn deadly? Through multiple time lines, Tyce, best-selling author of Blood Orange (2019) and The Lies You Told (2020), depicts a toxic friendship between Tess and Sylvie. Time is running out. When Tess is diagnosed with a brain tumor, she is determined to rectify tragic events from her past, previously protected by lies and secrets. What actually happened at Cambridge in 1990? Who is telling the truth? In this dark and disturbing mix of psychological suspense and legal thriller, Tyce explores themes of sexual assault, infidelity, jealousy, obsession, and revenge. When reputations are questioned, will regret and guilt compel characters to do the right thing? The palpable tension and riveting suspense will appeal to those who enjoy both courtroom dramas and locked-room mysteries.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Deputy district judge Sylvie, the principal narrator of this tantalizing psychological thriller from Tyce (The Lies You Told), wants to focus on securing a position as a Crown Court judge and enjoying her new relationship with Edinburgh chef Gareth. Then Sylvie's best friend, Tess, announces that she has brain cancer and asks Sylvie to help her with two things. The first is giving the bad news to her estranged husband, Marcus, so they can do a 20th anniversary renewal of wedding vows at Hogmanay (the Scottish New Year's celebration), with Sylvie once again standing as sole bridesmaid. The other is finding and making amends to an old classmate of theirs, Linda, who served time for the death of Sylvie's then boyfriend, largely on the basis of Tess and Sylvie's false testimony. Scenes of tense interactions among Tess, Sylvie, Marcus, and Gareth alternate with Sylvie's recollections of pivotal moments from their school days. Clues to what's really going on are dropped at a perfect pace as Sylvie's distrust of herself and others grows and the plot barrels toward its deadly conclusion at Hogmanay. Tyce is a writer to watch. Agent: Grainne Fox, Fletcher & Co. (Feb.)
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