A Book A Week

This year, I've made it my mission to read books by as many new-to-me authors as I can. Since releasing her debut No Bad Deed in 2020, Heather Chavez has taken thriller readers by storm. She's been on my TBR list ever since. I'm sorry that I hadn't read any of her books until her publisher sent me a copy of her latest novel Before She Finds Me. As has often been the case as I've explored new authors, I'm left kicking myself for waiting so long to crack open the pages. 

Julia Bennet is entering a new stage in her life. For the last eighteen years, her main job in life has been co-parenting her daughter Cora with her ex-husband. Today everything will change. Cora is starting college. As move-in day approaches, Julia's main concern is having the day go as smoothly as possible. Cora deserves to have a day when her mother and father can get along. Julia is determined to make that happen, even if her ex is bringing his new wife. Today is about Cora, and everything will go off without a hitch. As the big day comes, everything is going well. Then the shooting starts. Everything is about to change, but not in the way Julia anticipated. 

Ren's job requires her to have an intense focus and attention to detail. She's a trained assassin for hire, you see, so missing a minute detail can mean the difference between life and death. These days, Ren isn't only worried about her own safety. She's pregnant. Every move she makes impacts two lives now. Ren isn't at the school during the shooting, but her husband Nolan is. The pair always loop each other in before taking on a job, so Ren is surprised that Nolan didn't tell her about this one. As she looks deeper into the attack, she begins to question who really hired him. More troubling, why did Nolan choose to keep this job a secret?

Before She Finds Me sees Heather Chavez combine themes of motherhood and family into a tightly wound thriller that had me flying through the pages. She writes of two women from opposite walks of life striving to give their families the best life possible. Chavez alternates chapters between both characters' perspectives, giving readers insight into both women's motivations. Pitting these two strong characters against each other helps to build tension while blurring the lines between good and evil. The book culminates in a twisty shock that left me glued to the final pages. This is what summer reading is all about. Smart characters, clever plotting, and a pace that doesn't let up. 

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2023, 39)