Just a Breath Away

Starred review from December 15, 2014
Those looking for romantic-thriller nirvana will find it in this standalone from Thompson (To the Grave). When Brynn Wilder and Mark, her brother, were in their teens, their father was murdered and posthumously declared Maryland’s infamous Genessa Point Killer. Brynn managed to move on and become a novelist, but Mark remained mired in the shame and blame . Eighteen years later, Mark has decided to return to Genessa Point, his deceptively pastoral Chesapeake Bay hometown, determined to clear his father’s name. Brynn, now living in Miami, is sufficiently worried about Mark to follow him to Genessa Point, where she learns that he’s suddenly disappeared. Reluctantly, she turns to Sheriff Garrett Dane, son of the sheriff who convinced the locals of her father’s guilt. Sinister voice-distorted phone calls and threats ensue, driving Brynn and Garrett into each other’s arms. A kid, a dog, and Steve Winwood’s plaintive eponymous song round out an excellent read. Agent: Pamela Ahearn, Ahearn Agency.

January 1, 2015
Eighteen years ago, Brynn Wilder's father died after apparently trying to murder teenager Tessa Cavanaugh. Since Tessa's near murder followed a string of killings of local youngsters, Jonah was dubbed the Genessa Point Killer. Brynn and her brother, Mark, always believed their father was innocent, but with so much evidence against him, there was little they could do but move away and try to rebuild their lives. Then Brynn receives a call from Mark, who says he's found new evidence and is returning to Genessa Point. When Mark disappears, Brynn knows that she, too, must go back to Genessa Point. Once she's there, a series of increasingly creepy incidents convince her that she's being threatened, perhaps because Mark learned something. With the help of Sheriff Garrett Dane, Brynn tries to unravel the increasingly terrifying truth. What she finds is as horrifying as it is deadly. Despite the satisfying conclusion, readers are likely to leave the lights on and the doors locked after finishing this suspenseful blend of horror and thriller genres.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)