Finding Grace

At the start of this engrossing paranormal thriller from Thomas (All That’s Left of Me), 33-year-old New York bartender Louise learns that her chronically unstable mother, Grace, is at Bellevue Hospital after being found singing to herself on the George Washington Bridge. Against her better judgment, Louise decides to pick up Grace and let her estranged mother stay at her apartment. Grace warns Louise that a young girl they both know is in grave danger, and they must drive across the country to save her. Jaded by years of her mother’s shenanigans, Louise reluctantly agrees to head for California, where 12-year-old Melanie, who lives with her fourth set of foster parents, fears she’s at risk of losing them after an entity that nobody else can hear or see warns her that something bad is about to happen. Thomas keeps the reader guessing what’s going on as she shifts between the perspectives of Louise, Grace, and Melanie en route to the touching, bittersweet ending. Flashbacks to Louise’s youth movingly explore mother-daughter relationships. Those who value character-driven suspense will be rewarded. Agent: Wendy Sherman, Wendy Sherman Assoc. (Apr.)