Book of the Week September 17, 2026
Knapp’s debut tells a dark story laced with hope and courage. Dr. Randi Jewell recently lost her police officer husband to violence during a robbery and her sister has mysteriously vanished. She buries herself in her work as an OB-GYN, overworking to forget. Her 13-year-old daughter, Alaina, asks her to help a friend who’s pregnant and having complications. The friend, who calls herself Holly, is 18, and her living conditions are far from safe. She doesn’t trust Randi at first but slowly begins to warm to her care. Randi starts noticing patterns that tie back to her husband’s death and her sister’s disappearance as she learns more about Nora, Holly’s real name. Doing the right thing could cost Randi her career, or worse, land the rest of her family in the local cemetery. Knapp’s background as an OB-GYN in rural communities lends authenticity to this disturbing yet uplifting tale. Don’t be complicit in overlooking this terrific medical thriller. Knapp has a long career as a gifted storyteller ahead of her.—Jeff Ayers
