The Companion

YA author Blakemore (Bowery Girl) makes her adult debut with a captivating tale of psychological suspense. In 1855, Lucy Blunt awaits hanging for multiple murders in the New Hampshire State Prison. Lucy’s unreliable narrative alternates between her thoughts on her present predicament and reminiscences of her past life, including the circumstances leading to her incarceration. At age 11, Lucy’s mother and brother die from whooping cough. Her father drinks away his grief, and later, when Lucy becomes pregnant out of wedlock, he disowns her. Forced to leave home, she takes a position as maid with a local family. The previous maid, Mary Dawson, was found drowned in a brook. Plagued by Mary’s death, Lucy realizes she may have murdered Mary to gain employment. Another murder follows. At one point, Lucy says the murders were caused by arsenic poisoning; later on, she describes a totally different scenario. Trying to ferret out what is and isn’t true will keep readers guessing to the end. This will appeal to those who like thoughtful character studies. Agent: Mark Gottlieb, Trident Media Group. (Jan.)