One Step Behind

July 20, 2020
The lives of two troubled women intertwine in this unsettling psychological thriller from British author North (The Perfect Son). Jenna Lawson, a physician in the Accident and Emergency department of Westbury District Hospital, is the victim of a stalker, whose machinations—which include sending emails to Jenna and her employers accusing her of sexually abusing a child patient—are often uppermost in her mind. Meanwhile, personal trainer Sophie worries about her brother, Matthew, with whom she shared a difficult childhood. Based on glimpses of Matthew that are too often to be coincidental, Jenna suspects he is the stalker, but she has never managed to take a photo of him to show the police. The tables turn when Matthew ends up in Jenna’s emergency room, having been hit by a bus. Jenna determines to find out everything she can about him, discovering along the way that everyone close to her has secrets. A nice see-sawing of emotions and motives will keep most readers guessing to the end. North remains a writer to watch. Agent: Tanera Simons, Darley Anderson Literary (U.K.).