By: Lori Rader-Day
ISBN: 0062560298
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: 4/11/2017
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 3.5 Stars From the award-winning author of Little Pretty Things comes this gripping, unforgettable tale of a mother’s desperate search for two lost boys. Anna Winger knows people better than they know themselves with only a glance—at their handwriting. Hired by companies seeking trustworthy employees and by the lovelorn hoping to find happiness, Anna likes to keep the real mess of other people’s lives at arm’s length and on paper. But when she is called to use her expertise on a ransom note left behind at a murder scene in the small town she and her son have recently moved to, the crime inevitably gets under Anna’s skin. Was the child kidnapped from his home by his own mother, trying to save him from his abusive father? Thirteen years ago, Anna did the same thing for her unborn son, now a troubled teen rebelling against the protected life she’s given him.
The local sheriff wants no part of Anna’s brand of hocus pocus, but he’ll do whatever it takes to bring his community and his office back under control. Anna is able to discern from the note that no one in the little boy’s family has been safe for a long time. And bringing him and his mother home could be the worst possible outcome for them.
Then her son goes missing, too.
With two boys gone, Anna’s life is ripped wide open. Now to save her son—and herself—Anna must face all of her fears and mistakes, and the full consequences of setting aside everything and everyone for family.
A special thank you to Edelweiss and HarperCollins for an early reading copy.
Advance Praise
Praise for Little Pretty Things: “Rader-Day again proves herself a deft manipulator of dark atmosphere, witty dialogue, and complex, charismatic characters. Highly recommend for psychological thriller groupies, especially those who walk on the literary side of the genre and favor books like Tana French’s Faithful Place and Cornelia Read’s Madeline Dare series.” —Booklist (starred review)
“A searing, psychological suspense novel about small-town dreams shattered by a deadly secret.”
—Terry Shames, Macavity Award-winning author of A Killing at Cotton Hill
“An exceptional debut...An irresistible combination of menace, betrayal, and self-discovery.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Praise for The Black Hour: “Addictive.... A perfect thriller for the summer.”
—BookPage
“An unusual protagonist, a timely crime, and outstanding writing make Lori Rader-Day’s The Black Hour a stand-out debut.”
—Sara Paretsky
About the Author
Lori Rader-Day’s debut mystery, The Black Hour, won the 2014 Anthony Award for Best First Novel and was a finalist for the Mary Higgins Clark Award. Her second novel, Little Pretty Things, received a starred review from Booklist and was named a 2015 “most arresting crime novel” by Kirkus Reviews. She lives in Chicago. Read More
