cover image You Will Never Know

You Will Never Know

S.A. Prentiss. Scarlet, $25.95 (288p) ISBN 978-1-61316-192-0

Bank teller Jessica Thornton, the heroine of this tantalizing novel of suspense from the pseudonymous Prentiss, and her second husband, Ted Donovan, a real estate agent, live in Warner, Mass., with their teenage children: Jessica’s daughter, Emma, and Ted’s son, Craig. Though Ted’s real estate business is in trouble, Jessica hopes she can help the family financially once she starts taking business courses at the local community college. Then popular Sam Warner, the high school wrestling team captain, is found shot to death in Warner State Forest. With a scion of the town’s founder as the victim, the police are pressured to find the killer—fast. Then a police detective shows up and tells Jessica he needs to talk to her and Ted about Emma and Craig. Are things as bad as she fears? Or are they much worse? All she knows is that she has to take action to protect those she loves. Prentiss does a fine job shifting the reader’s expectations regarding suspects, motives, and even the crimes committed. Fans of fair play mysteries will be impressed. (Nov.)