A.J. Finn, pseudonym for Dan Mallory, former book editor and author of the previous best seller The Woman in the Window, adapted as a movie starring Amy Adams, offers us another twisty turny tale of psychological suspense, similar to those of authors Lucy Foley, Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena, and Nita Prose, all of whom write in this genre and have blurbs on this novel. Mallory’s own life offers an interesting tale of alleged subterfuge; for those interested in a real life story of supposed deceit, read The New Yorker article (https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/02/11/a-suspense-novelists-trail-of-deceptions).

I will work to be sure not to spoil the surprise ending, as the entire book centers on solving the twenty year old mystery of a missing mother and her son, wife and child of internationally successful detective fiction author Sebastian Trapp. The irony that a mystery writer who has killed people fictionally in multitudinous ways could likely be successful at making two people, in two separate locations successfully vanish is a theory that captivated the media for two decades. Trapp, facing his own imminent death, has enlisted Nicky Hunter, professor of detective fiction and five year correspondent with Trapp, to stay with his family, hear their family stories, write a “memory book” for posterity, and maybe “solve a mystery or two.” In that two week period, Nicky lives in the family mansion in San Francisco, hearing stories from Trapp, his daughter Madeline, sister-in-law Simone, nephew Freddie, and Diana, Sebastian’s second wife and former assistance to Sebastian’s first wife. Other interesting characters include Jonathan Grant, friend of Freddie’s, detective B.B. Springer, Isaac, her husband and former researcher for Trapp, and Springer’s fellow detective, Timbo Martinez. The recurrent theme of conversation is the disappearance of Hope, Sebastian’s first wife, and his son, Cole.

No one is completely open and honest. Everyone shades the truth, or is not who they appear to be. The fun of a book like this is trying to peer through the subterfuge and discern who is guilty of what. I must say, Finn does a nice job of adding the layers of deceit and misdirection. Sebastian Trapp is a bit over the top as the eccentric, pompous author, and Madeline is too quick-witted for someone so unable to write on her own. B.B. Springer is a bit of a stereotype for a San Francisco detective, with her colorful hair and leather jacket. Nicky Hunter is a sympathetic heroine, and the only real reason to see this mystery to the end. Personally, the final twist is a disappointment, but most readers these days will probably be okay with it. If Finn was trying to be au courant, as I suspect he was, he picked the right ending, in hopes of a politically woke bestseller.