September 18, 2017
Secrets from the past and the roots of the dysfunction in a seemingly perfect family are slowly revealed in this suspenseful novel from Baart (The Beautiful Daughters). When Quinn Cruz gets a mundane text—“I have something for you”—from her sister, Nora, she is unprepared for the change it will bring to her staid life in Key Lake, Minn., where she lives with her artist husband. Though she hasn’t seen Quinn for over a year, Nora shows up at Quinn’s door with six-year-old Lucy and then abruptly leaves after asking Quinn to keep Lucy safe. Quinn and her mother, Liz, believe that Lucy may be Nora’s daughter; Quinn doesn’t have any idea why Nora seemingly abandoned the little girl. Baart slowly reveals the circumstances that caused to Nora bring Lucy to Quinn’s home while simultaneously shedding light on past indiscretions within the Sanford family that have remained hidden for years. The mesmerizing story line is rife with mystery regarding Lucy’s parentage and the reasons for the strained relationships between Quinn, Liz, and Nora. This is an accomplished exploration of the fragile bonds of a family as they attempt to overcome obstacles they never saw coming.
October 1, 2017
Quinn hadn't heard from her sister in a while, but that wasn't unusual. Nora had always been a bit of a loner. When Quinn receives an odd text from Nora saying that she has something for her, Quinn's curiosity and concern for Nora's well-being get the best of her, and what Nora hands over is not a something, but rather a someone. Nora asks Quinn to protect Lucy, a heartrendingly timid six-year-old, and to tell no one of her whereabouts. While Quinn attempts to keep Lucy safe from circumstances she barely understands, Nora searches for the person with all the answers, even though this person doesn't want to be found. Baart's (Beneath the Night Tree, 2011) novel of familial ties, betrayals, and long-overdue confrontations ventures into the territory of Paula Hawkins, Mary Kubica, and Kimberly Belle. Baart's pacing keeps the novel driving forward, while a core group of narrators offers different perspectives on the murky facts of Lucy's upbringing. Full of twists and turns, this is a great addition to the recent surge in suspenseful domestic fiction.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)