Darling, You’re Next

Maren and Topher find each other in a total meet-cute: she stumbles and twists her ankle while jogging, and a handsome kind man comes to her rescue. The attraction is unmistakable, but they part ways with just a smile. When they find each other in the same grief-counseling session the next day, it seems like kismet—Topher is mourning the loss of his fiancée, Abby, and Maren’s father has recently passed—and the relationship takes off. Quickly. Can Topher actually be this perfect? As more details come to light about how Abby died, Maren suspects she doesn’t know the whole truth, and sensing that, Topher tightens his hold on her. With a dual timeline, readers will build parallels between the stories he is trying to hide from his past and what is happening now. Bush builds support nets around both Abby and Maren through an interesting cast of characters both sympathetic and problematic, such as Topher’s alcoholic mother and Abby’s best friend. This is addictive and thrilling, the sense of dread growing as each chapter flies by, with a spectacular ending that readers won’t see coming.—Dodie Ownes