Ours Is a Tale of Murder

Murphy (The New Mother) crafts a devilish mystery populated by a cast of untrustworthy characters. At the outset, Klara Martin, a torts lawyer eager to make partner at her firm, is approached at a party by handsome fellow attorney Troy Weston. Eventually the two marry, and Murphy intertwines the story of their complex relationship with that of two of their neighbors in the well-off Maryland suburb of Hawthorne Heights. Mary is a peculiar widow who worships her son Owen and has regrets about her relationship with her late husband, Ed. Henry is an unemployed adult with a history of stalking girls as far back as middle school; he spends his days watching Klara, Troy, and Mary from his window, growing convinced that Klara needs saving. As the three households hurtle toward a violence, Murphy pulls the rug out from under the reader, recasting the entire narrative in a new light. Few readers will have seen it coming, but they will, in hindsight, be impressed by Murphy’s ingenious narrative structure and clever placement of clues. Paula Hawkins fans should seek this out. Agent: Sarah Landis, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Feb.)