FIRST BOOK OF 2019: CONTINUING A TRADITION…

On By Laurel-Rain SnowIn First Book of the Year 2019

It is time to celebrate our First Book of the Year tradition, hosted by Sheila, at Book Journey.

I have participated since 2014, and have a page here dedicated to all of my First Books.

My pick for 2019 continues the series I started featuring in 2015, the Under Suspicion Novels, by Mary Higgins Clark & Alafair Burke:  You Don’t Own Me.

 

Here I am, holding my Kindle copy:

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis:  When we last saw Laurie Moran, she had recently become engaged to her show’s former host, Alex Buckley. Since then, the two have been happily planning a summer wedding and honeymoon, preparing for Alex’s confirmation to a federal judicial appointment, and searching for the perfect New York City home for their new life together.

But then Laurie is approached by Robert and Cynthia Bell, parents of Dr. Martin Bell, a famously charming and talented physician who was shot dead as he pulled into the driveway of his Greenwich Village carriage house five years ago. The Bells are sure that Martin’s disgraced and erratic wife, Kendra, carried out the murder. Determined to prove Kendra’s guilt and win custody over their grandchildren, they plead with Laurie to feature their son’s case on “Under Suspicion,” ensuring her that Kendra is willing to cooperate.

Kendra has lived under a blanket of suspicion since Martin’s death, with the tabloid media depicting her as a secretive, mentally unstable gold-digger. Laurie’s show is a chance for her to clear her name. But unbeknownst to the Bells, Kendra has already refused once before to go forward with a re-investigation of her husband’s murder, and her statements to the contrary only add to the appearance of guilt.

But once Laurie dives into the case, she learns that Martin wasn’t the picture-perfect husband, father, and doctor he appeared to be and was carrying secrets of his own. And what does the web of lies ensnaring the Bell family have to do with a dangerous stranger, who gazes at Laurie from afar and thinks, She is actually quite a lovely girl, I’m sure she’s going to be missed…?

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I’ll be reading this book within the next two days, and will be back here to post my review.  I’d love to hear more about your first books.

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30 thoughts on “FIRST BOOK OF 2019: CONTINUING A TRADITION…”

    1. Thanks, Yvonne, when I discovered that MHC & her co-author brought out a new book each year in this series, just in time for the First Book event, the decision was easy. Her books are always fast-paced, too.

      Happy New Year to you, too!

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  10. Cheryl Malandrinos

    I have never read anything by Mary Higgins Clark. I keep saying that will change, but it hasn’t yet. This book sounds so fascinating. Maybe it’s time.

    Happy new year! Here’s to a ton of great reading. Thanks for visiting my blog.

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  15. First Book of the Year is always fun. You seem to have made an enticing choice. For whatever reason, my first book was James Baldwin’s short novel If Beale Street Could Talk which I thought was powerful. I hope to see the movie of it sometime soon. Cheers & Happy 2019!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Susan, and I have loved featuring new books in a mystery series by these authors. The books are fast-paced and quick reading, which works great for me on a New Year’s Day. Enjoy 2019!

      Your pick looks tempting, and I’ve been seeing previews of the movie.

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