African Americans - Fiction & Literature
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Overview
Libby has a nice life with a great job, a gorgeous husband and a big home by the sea. But she's becoming more unsure of Jack's feelings for her - and if he is over the mysterious death of Eve, his first wife.
When fate intervenes in their relationship, Libby decides to find out all she can about the man she hastily married and the seemingly perfect Eve.
Eventually Libby stumbles across some startling truths about Eve. As she begins to unearth more and more devastating secrets, Libby becomes frightened that she too will end up like the first woman Jack loved. . .
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
When Libby Britcham almost dies in a car accident in this complex, richly detailed novel of romantic suspense from British author Koomson (The Ice Cream Girls), she decides to find out more about her handsome, successful husband, Jack, whom she married after a whirlwind courtship. The police wonder why Jack was driving the car when he knew that the passenger-seat air bag was faulty. They already suspect he was responsible for the death of his first wife, Eve. As Libby makes a slow and painful recovery, she seeks to understand Jack’s love for Eve, but Jack’s lingering feelings for his first wife (“I still find it hard to say her name... a name that claws her memory across my tongue as I speak it”) and Libby’s inability to move emotionally past the accident threaten their marriage. Eve’s diaries, which Libby eventually discovers, provide some startling revelations about Jack and Eve’s relationship. Agent: Anthony Gardner, Anthony Gardner Literary Agency. (May)Antoinette Van Heugten
"An intricate tragedy of seduction and abuse, the loss of self and family, and the agonizing path to redemption and absolution. I couldn't put it down. Neither will you."Kimberla Lawson Roby
"A thought-provoking and moving tale about murder, betrayal and life-shattering secrets."Victoria Christopher Murray
"I truly enjoyed this suspenseful story filled with tragedy, but ending with major triumph. There were so many moments when I held my breath - the scenes were so vivid, I felt as if I was right there experiencing all of their pain and mind control. It was a story that I didn't want to put down, and I completely loved the ending. This is a writer that I will be sure to follow."Cosmopolitan
"Goodnight, Beautiful was Cosmo's favourite book of 2008, so we were beyond excited when Dorothy Koomson's latest novel landed on our desk. Another moving and thought-provoking read, this lives up to expectations."Kirkus Reviews
A mystery and a love story told from the alternating perspectives of Libby, her husband, Jack, and Jack's first, now-deceased wife, Eve, after Libby discovers Eve's hidden diaries. The romance between Libby and Jack is nice enough, until they are involved in a car accident and Jack cries out Eve's name. Then the police question both Jack and Libby, making Libby wonder why one female police officer seems to think Jack might have caused the accident on purpose to kill his second wife. Apparently, the circumstances of the first wife's death were suspicious. Libby doesn't believe Jack is a killer, but she is curious to learn what happened. Soon after, Libby finds Eve's diaries. The diary entries tell the story of a young woman who leaves home to escape rape by her mother's boyfriend only to fall on hard times and into a life of prostitution. Life goes from bad to worse until she meets Jack, who loves her deeply. Happily ever after, however, is interrupted when Eve encounters an unwelcome figure from her past. A tear-jerker.Book Details
Published
May 14, 2013
Publisher
Grand Central Publishing
Pages
452
Format
Paperback
ISBN
9781455507146