Review by Library Journal Review
Hawkins (The Heiress) uses multiple points of view, mixed media, and alternating timelines to explore a 40-year-old mystery in her new suspense novel. In 1984, Hurricane Marie devastated the town of St. Medard's Bay, AL; one of the few structures still standing was the stalwart Rosalie Inn. In that same storm, Landon Fitzroy was killed; his teenaged mistress, Gloria "Lo" Bailey, was ultimately tried for his murder. The present day sees Geneva Corliss struggling to keep the Rosalie Inn afloat. When author August Fletcher, researching a new book, asks to reserve a room at the inn for an open-ended period of time, Geneva can't say yes fast enough. It turns out that August is writing about the crime that put St. Medard's Bay on the map, and his investigation threatens to unearth secrets best kept buried, even inspiring Lo to return to prove her innocence. At first, Geneva is only concerned with saving the inn; by the time she realizes that August's discoveries might reveal her own family's secrets, it may be too late to step in. VERDICT Both Hawkins's fans and new readers will enjoy her fast-paced, atmospheric suspense novel.--Jane Jorgenson
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