Such a Beautiful Family

Nora Harmon, the protagonist of this gripping psychological thriller from bestseller Ragan (Count to Three), seems to have the perfect home life: a loving husband, David; an only-mildly-rebellious 15-year-old daughter, Hailey; and an affectionate, nerdy 13-year-old son, Trevor. Then Jane Bell, the CEO of an exciting new software firm in Sacramento, Calif., lures her away from her current job by offering her a position that seems almost tailored for her. As time goes on, however, Nora becomes increasingly concerned at how glamorous and vivacious Jane insinuates herself into the Harmons’ family life, trying to win Hailey’s and Trevor’s affections with extravagant gifts and paying too much personal attention to David. A hidden tragedy from Nora’s past makes her uneasy about facing her suspicions. The stakes rise when wary computer geek Trevor reports that he can’t find anything about Jane’s past. So who is Jane, and what does she have in mind for Nora and her family? Never mind the contrived plot. Readers will keep turning the pages to see what happens next. Ragan consistently delivers the goods. Agent: Amy Tannenbaum, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Dec.)