Baggage

Anna Ray, the tormented heroine of this outstanding thriller from Redling (Flowertown), drinks far too much wine, because she has a huge burden of personal grief to forget—especially on February 17, the day when her mother killed her father and her husband committed suicide. This year, she tells herself that she should feel safe. She has a good job at picturesque Eastern Allegheny College in Gilead, W.Va., and the support of both her loving cousin/drinking buddy, Jeannie Conroy, and her maniacally maternal boss, Meredith Michener. On the dreadfully significant day, however, when the beaten and mutilated body of an arrogant professor turns up in the basement of the college building where she works, Anna realizes that someone with a grudge against her is lurking nearby. Somehow, Anna must pull herself together and fight. Redling does a superior job of sharing Anna’s fear that someone is out to get her and that she’s living in a nightmare. Agent: Christine Witthohn, Book Cents Literary Agency. (Feb.)