Suspected of a murder she can’t remember, a troubled woman takes an unusual approach to proving her innocence in this gripping thriller from the bestselling author of Little Voices.
When Jules Worthington-Smith’s wallet is found next to a dead man, she becomes the prime suspect in his murder. After struggling for years to build the perfect family and career, she’s dangerously close to losing everything.
Sure of her innocence, Jules is desperate to clear her name. But there’s one big problem: she was blackout drunk when the murder took place and can’t remember what happened.
Unsatisfied with the police’s handling of the case, Jules embarks on her own gin-fueled murder investigation. As she uncovers fresh clues, she starts a true-crime vlog that becomes a viral sensation, pushing her into the public eye. It’s not long before the ordeal forces Jules to confront her demons, including her turbulent childhood and excessive drinking.
The deeper Jules digs, the more dirt she uncovers about the murder and herself. Unexpected truths pile up until she’s buried so deep even finding the killer might not be enough to set her free.
Genre: Mystery
When Jules Worthington-Smith’s wallet is found next to a dead man, she becomes the prime suspect in his murder. After struggling for years to build the perfect family and career, she’s dangerously close to losing everything.
Sure of her innocence, Jules is desperate to clear her name. But there’s one big problem: she was blackout drunk when the murder took place and can’t remember what happened.
Unsatisfied with the police’s handling of the case, Jules embarks on her own gin-fueled murder investigation. As she uncovers fresh clues, she starts a true-crime vlog that becomes a viral sensation, pushing her into the public eye. It’s not long before the ordeal forces Jules to confront her demons, including her turbulent childhood and excessive drinking.
The deeper Jules digs, the more dirt she uncovers about the murder and herself. Unexpected truths pile up until she’s buried so deep even finding the killer might not be enough to set her free.
Genre: Mystery
Praise for this book
"In her sophomore novel, For the Best, Vanessa Lillie proves once again she is a master of the final twist. With an expert hand, Lillie creates a fascinating, gripping, thought-provoking thriller that weaves past trauma and present-day consequences for a protagonist accused of her beloved colleague’s murder. Complex, edgy, and smart, For the Best reveals secrets page after page, leading to a shocking ending you won’t see coming." - Samantha M Bailey
"Vanessa Lillie’s For the Best is both a riveting page-turner about a woman’s race to prove her own innocence, and a layered, thought-provoking exploration of self-destructive impulses and the crushing weight of old secrets. Well-paced and full of surprises, this is one you definitely don’t want to miss!" - Kathleen Barber
"Lillie follows up her smashing debut Little Voices with another winner, this time exploring just how far a person will go to keep old secrets buried. For the Best is dark and gritty, starring a host of damaged characters who blur the line between what’s true and what’s not. A slow-burn, moody mystery that will keep you on your toes." - Kimberly Belle
"Twisty, unpredictable, and compulsively readable, For the Best deftly explores the intersections of healing and justice. Vanessa Lillie has created a riveting mystery about a woman desperate to remember what happened the night someone close to her was murdered—and she was named the prime suspect. Packed with surprises, this book will have you turning pages long into the night, right up until its stunning conclusion and beautiful last line." - Megan Collins
"For the Best is a riveting story of a woman who is accused of murder and launches her own investigation. Plotted to perfection, the events of that night unfold in a series of shocking and disturbing twists. A clever, captivating book you need on your list." - Samantha Downing
"Vanessa Lillie takes domestic suspense to another level in For the Best. Gripping and suspenseful with edge-of-your-seat reveals that will keep you turning the pages to the epic conclusion. If you liked Little Voices, you’ll love For the Best." - Matthew Farrell
"In just two books, Vanessa Lillie has already earned a reputation for creating beautifully flawed and complicated characters who won’t let past trauma get in the way of their present—especially when it involves solving a murder. For the Best has all the things I fell in love with in Lillie’s debut: the idyllic Rhode Island setting, the layered character studies, and the unexpected reveals. And all while introducing a new main character still desperate for justice, but this time for herself. Lillie remains a writer to watch!" - Kellye Garrett
"For the Best grabs the reader from the first page and does not let up until the final, unexpected turn. While Jules Worthington-Smith fights to clear her name and preserve her hard-earned career, what she discovers threatens to bring her world down around her. As in her debut Little Voices, Vanessa Lillie writes with both authority and a fresh voice as she confronts the contradiction of family—that those closest to us can give us strength or tear us to shreds, and sometimes both at once. For the Best is not to be missed." - Danielle Girard
"In this nail biter of a thriller, Lillie delivers an unconventional, unlikeable, but not unsympathetic protagonist who gets caught between a decades-old tragedy and a current day mystery. CEO Juliet finds herself in an impossible situation when her colleague is murdered, leaving her the prime suspect. What follows is a high-stakes unraveling, forcing Juliet to confront both her past and who she fears she’s becoming. Character-driven and heart wrenching, For the Best is a book to be devoured more than read." - Wendy Heard
"What happens when the secrets from your past finally catch up to you in the present? For the Best is a dark and twisting tale that takes you on a breathless ride from the first page to the final jaw-dropping conclusion. Juliet Wellington-Smith, a prominent Foundation CEO, is stunned to wake up to a murder accusation after an alcohol-fueled gala the night before. She sets out to clear her name and uncover the truth, but to do so, she will need to confront her demons from the past. And some of those demons are still very much alive. A must read for thriller lovers!" - Amy Impellizzeri
"A fascinating look at the power of restorative justice, For the Best is Vanessa Lillie at her finest. With damaged characters and a dark undercurrent, the plot unravels a myriad of devastating secrets in the wake of an alcohol-soaked night that left a man dead and a woman accused of his murder. Mesmerizing and thought-provoking, For the Best smolders with a brooding, slow-burn tension you simply won’t want to miss." - Christina McDonald
"In For the Best, Vanessa Lillie deftly writes about complex and gritty relationships, and the damage long-term familial secrets can cause. The story had me switching allegiances like it was a tennis match, made me suspect everyone, and the ending…pure perfection. A fast-paced read thriller lovers won’t want to miss!" - Hannah Mary McKinnon
"Lillie’s sophomore novel, For the Best, builds on an already impressive debut with a book that crafts a haunting, evocative mystery—starring a complicated and flawed protagonist in Jules. Lillie’s prose is taut and mesmerizing, and that ending knocked me for a loop. Don’t sleep on this book or Vanessa Lillie—a true rising star in crime fiction." - Alex Segura
"As a woman tries to clear her name of a murder charge using an investigative vlog, she unearths secrets that hit close to home. The resolution is emotionally complex and devoid of sneaky tricks and tropes. For the Best is intelligent and wholly original. It is that rare book that makes you race to the end but then stop in your tracks and just say WHOA! The perfect follow-up to Lillie’s sensational debut, Little Voices." - Wendy Walker
"Vanessa Lillie’s For the Best is both a riveting page-turner about a woman’s race to prove her own innocence, and a layered, thought-provoking exploration of self-destructive impulses and the crushing weight of old secrets. Well-paced and full of surprises, this is one you definitely don’t want to miss!" - Kathleen Barber
"Lillie follows up her smashing debut Little Voices with another winner, this time exploring just how far a person will go to keep old secrets buried. For the Best is dark and gritty, starring a host of damaged characters who blur the line between what’s true and what’s not. A slow-burn, moody mystery that will keep you on your toes." - Kimberly Belle
"Twisty, unpredictable, and compulsively readable, For the Best deftly explores the intersections of healing and justice. Vanessa Lillie has created a riveting mystery about a woman desperate to remember what happened the night someone close to her was murdered—and she was named the prime suspect. Packed with surprises, this book will have you turning pages long into the night, right up until its stunning conclusion and beautiful last line." - Megan Collins
"For the Best is a riveting story of a woman who is accused of murder and launches her own investigation. Plotted to perfection, the events of that night unfold in a series of shocking and disturbing twists. A clever, captivating book you need on your list." - Samantha Downing
"Vanessa Lillie takes domestic suspense to another level in For the Best. Gripping and suspenseful with edge-of-your-seat reveals that will keep you turning the pages to the epic conclusion. If you liked Little Voices, you’ll love For the Best." - Matthew Farrell
"In just two books, Vanessa Lillie has already earned a reputation for creating beautifully flawed and complicated characters who won’t let past trauma get in the way of their present—especially when it involves solving a murder. For the Best has all the things I fell in love with in Lillie’s debut: the idyllic Rhode Island setting, the layered character studies, and the unexpected reveals. And all while introducing a new main character still desperate for justice, but this time for herself. Lillie remains a writer to watch!" - Kellye Garrett
"For the Best grabs the reader from the first page and does not let up until the final, unexpected turn. While Jules Worthington-Smith fights to clear her name and preserve her hard-earned career, what she discovers threatens to bring her world down around her. As in her debut Little Voices, Vanessa Lillie writes with both authority and a fresh voice as she confronts the contradiction of family—that those closest to us can give us strength or tear us to shreds, and sometimes both at once. For the Best is not to be missed." - Danielle Girard
"In this nail biter of a thriller, Lillie delivers an unconventional, unlikeable, but not unsympathetic protagonist who gets caught between a decades-old tragedy and a current day mystery. CEO Juliet finds herself in an impossible situation when her colleague is murdered, leaving her the prime suspect. What follows is a high-stakes unraveling, forcing Juliet to confront both her past and who she fears she’s becoming. Character-driven and heart wrenching, For the Best is a book to be devoured more than read." - Wendy Heard
"What happens when the secrets from your past finally catch up to you in the present? For the Best is a dark and twisting tale that takes you on a breathless ride from the first page to the final jaw-dropping conclusion. Juliet Wellington-Smith, a prominent Foundation CEO, is stunned to wake up to a murder accusation after an alcohol-fueled gala the night before. She sets out to clear her name and uncover the truth, but to do so, she will need to confront her demons from the past. And some of those demons are still very much alive. A must read for thriller lovers!" - Amy Impellizzeri
"A fascinating look at the power of restorative justice, For the Best is Vanessa Lillie at her finest. With damaged characters and a dark undercurrent, the plot unravels a myriad of devastating secrets in the wake of an alcohol-soaked night that left a man dead and a woman accused of his murder. Mesmerizing and thought-provoking, For the Best smolders with a brooding, slow-burn tension you simply won’t want to miss." - Christina McDonald
"In For the Best, Vanessa Lillie deftly writes about complex and gritty relationships, and the damage long-term familial secrets can cause. The story had me switching allegiances like it was a tennis match, made me suspect everyone, and the ending…pure perfection. A fast-paced read thriller lovers won’t want to miss!" - Hannah Mary McKinnon
"Lillie’s sophomore novel, For the Best, builds on an already impressive debut with a book that crafts a haunting, evocative mystery—starring a complicated and flawed protagonist in Jules. Lillie’s prose is taut and mesmerizing, and that ending knocked me for a loop. Don’t sleep on this book or Vanessa Lillie—a true rising star in crime fiction." - Alex Segura
"As a woman tries to clear her name of a murder charge using an investigative vlog, she unearths secrets that hit close to home. The resolution is emotionally complex and devoid of sneaky tricks and tropes. For the Best is intelligent and wholly original. It is that rare book that makes you race to the end but then stop in your tracks and just say WHOA! The perfect follow-up to Lillie’s sensational debut, Little Voices." - Wendy Walker
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