Mine A novel of obsession

Fledgling London divorce lawyer Francine Day has always done everything right. She's viewed as a top prospect in her firm, and her superiors are urging her to try for silk, meaning she could gain a coveted Queen's Counsel spot. Then a new side of Francine, one she hardly recognizes herself, is revealed when she meets handsome, wealthy new client Martin Joy; romantic and sexual sparks fly, developments she regrets when Martin's wife goes missing. It's not clear whether Donna Joy is in hiding or is dead; worst of all for Francine is the fact that she got drunk on the night Donna was last seen and can't remember anything. Too much space is given to Francine's agonizing over what happened while she was drunk, causing the middle of the novel to drag, but Butler's story of ambition, lust, and fear will still engage readers drawn to thrillers featuring unreliable narrators (with a little steaminess thrown into the mix). Be aware that a clearly described rape is part of the story line.--Verma, Henrietta Copyright 2018 Booklist

London divorce lawyer Francine Day, the bipolar narrator of Butler's engrossing thriller, is on the cusp of a major promotion when she and a client, wealthy businessman Martin Joy, fall into a torrid love affair. Suspecting that Martin and his estranged wife, Donna, are still involved, the jealous, obsessive Francine follows them to a restaurant one night and then to Donna's home. The next morning, she has no memory of what happened afterward, but when she learns that Donna is missing, she suspects foul play. As her career and personal life unravel, Francine struggles to discover whether her lover is a murderer. An unsavory neighbor figures in an unsettling subplot, and other secondary characters, such as a rival at her law firm and her long-suffering best friend, add verisimilitude, though Martin is less well-drawn. An impeccably paced plot builds to a riveting confrontation, but some readers might find the resolution too tidy. Butler, the pseudonym of a British author with a background in law and magazine journalism, handles Francine's bipolar disorder with awareness and compassion. Agent: Rachel Mills, Furniss & Lawton (U.K.). (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.