Penitence

A family deals with a mysterious act of fratricide in Koval’s harrowing debut. In the small ski town of Lodgepole, Colo., Nora Sheehan, 13, is charged with the murder of her 14-year-old brother, Nico, who was recently diagnosed with Huntington’s disease, and who died from gunshot wounds. The police believe he was killed with their father, David’s gun. David, a park ranger, is often away, leaving parenting duties to his wife, Angie, whose favoring of Nico was no secret. After Nora’s arrest, David persuades a local attorney to get her son, New York lawyer Julian Dumont, on the case, as he specializes in juvenile criminal defense. It turns out Angie and Julian were high school sweethearts, and a parallel narrative follows an earlier tragedy, when Angie’s seven-year-old sister, Diana, died in a skiing accident while in the teen couple’s care. Nora’s motive remains murky as the case progresses, prompting the Sheehans to wonder whether she killed Nico out of mercy or spite after both sides eliminate the possibility that the gun went off by accident. Along the way, secrets kept by Angie and Julian about the aftermath of Diana’s death come to light. Koval maintains the pacing of a thriller while going deep on themes of guilt, forgiveness, and the toll of keeping secrets. Readers won’t be able to look away. Agent: Gail Hochman, Brandt & Hochman. (Feb.)