May 16, 2011
Near the outset of this impressive novel of suspense from Burke (212), her first stand-alone, 37-year-old Alice Humphrey, the daughter of controversial film director Frank Humphrey, meets charming Drew Campbell at a sparsely attended Manhattan art opening; he asks if she would like to manage the fledgling Highline Gallery. While the job appears too good to be true, Alice, who's been unemployed for eight months, accepts the offer. All goes well until Alice finds Drew dead in the gallery a few weeks later. The police regard Alice as the prime suspect in the murder of "Drew Campbell," who was not the man he claimed to be. Evidence against her includes paperwork supposedly showing that she leased the gallery space. Feeling trapped, Alice wonders if she's being set up and if it has anything to do with her famous father. Alice must dig deep into her family's checkered history if she's to prove her innocence. Burke skillfully orchestrates the mounting tension and claustrophobia of Alice's world collapsing in on itself.
Starred review from October 1, 2011
After writing six previous novels in two mystery series, Burke offers her first stand-alone thriller. She's created an appealing and believable character in Alice Humphrey, the underemployed daughter of a prominent film director who is somewhat estranged from her famous family. After landing a too-good-to-be-true gallery job, she is appalled to find there one of her new business contacts murdered, with many clues to the killer pointing her way. Reader Tamara Marston as Alice conveys the perfect combination of vulnerability and strength and is convincing as the more peripheral characters as well. Recommended for all fiction lovers. ["Highly recommended for Burke's Ellie Hatcher fans as well as general suspense and mystery readers," read the review of the HarperCollins hc, also starred, LJ 5/1/11.--Ed.]--Kristen L. Smith, Loras Coll. Lib., Dubuque, IA
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