cover image The Fiancée

The Fiancée

Kate White. Harper, $16.99 trade paper (368p) ISBN 978-0-06-294541-9

This skillfully constructed page-turner from bestseller White (Have You Seen Me?) opens with actor Summer Keaton heading, along with her husband, Gabe, and her nine-year-old stepson, for Gabe’s parents’ country home in Bucks County, Pa., for their annual family vacation, where all four Keaton brothers and their partners will be gathering. However, this year the picture-perfect holiday is marred for Summer by the arrival of actor Hannah Kane, the new fiancée of one of Gabe’s twin brothers. Summer recognizes Hannah from an acting showcase they both participated in two years earlier, but Hannah denies taking part in it. Why lie about something so innocent? Summer expresses her worry to Gabe, who shrugs off her concerns and suggests that her suspicions might be motivated by envy. When a family member dies of what appears to be a heart attack, only Summer believes the death to be murder. Then someone else dies, and the perfect Keaton clan’s facade starts to crumble, revealing devastating secrets and lies. Expert pacing, characters readers can love to hate, and an intelligent heroine make this a winner. White consistently entertains. Agent: Sandra Dijkstra, Sandra Dijkstra & Assoc. Literary. (June)