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New York Times–Bestselling Author: ‘I loved this twisty tale of friends, enemies, lovers, liars, and a family fractured by secrets.’ —Susan Wiggs
Five-year-old Sloane McBride couldn’t sleep that night. Her parents were arguing again, their harsh words heating the cool autumn air. And then there was that other sound—the ominous thump before all went quiet.
In the morning, her mother was gone.
The official story was that she left. Her loving, devoted mother! That hadn’t sat any better at the time than it did when Sloane moved out at eighteen, anxious to leave her small Texas hometown in search of anywhere else. But not even a fresh start working as a model in New York could keep the nightmares at bay. Or her fears that the domineering father she grew up with wasn’t just difficult—he was deadly.
Now another traumatic loss forces Sloane to realize she owes it to her mother to find out the truth, even if it means returning to a town full of secrets and lies, a jilted ex-boyfriend, and a father and brother who’d rather see her silenced. But as Sloane starts digging into the past, the question isn’t whether she can uncover what really happened that night��it’s what will remain of her family if she does . . .
‘A dark, twisty plot that will leave readers unsure until the very end keeps the pages turning in this engrossing, insightful romantic thriller.’ —Library Journal
‘The kind of book best swallowed in one sitting: suspenseful, surprising, and 100% addictive.’ —Kimberly Belle, USA Today–bestselling author of The Marriage Lie
Genre: Mystery
Five-year-old Sloane McBride couldn’t sleep that night. Her parents were arguing again, their harsh words heating the cool autumn air. And then there was that other sound—the ominous thump before all went quiet.
In the morning, her mother was gone.
The official story was that she left. Her loving, devoted mother! That hadn’t sat any better at the time than it did when Sloane moved out at eighteen, anxious to leave her small Texas hometown in search of anywhere else. But not even a fresh start working as a model in New York could keep the nightmares at bay. Or her fears that the domineering father she grew up with wasn’t just difficult—he was deadly.
Now another traumatic loss forces Sloane to realize she owes it to her mother to find out the truth, even if it means returning to a town full of secrets and lies, a jilted ex-boyfriend, and a father and brother who’d rather see her silenced. But as Sloane starts digging into the past, the question isn’t whether she can uncover what really happened that night��it’s what will remain of her family if she does . . .
‘A dark, twisty plot that will leave readers unsure until the very end keeps the pages turning in this engrossing, insightful romantic thriller.’ —Library Journal
‘The kind of book best swallowed in one sitting: suspenseful, surprising, and 100% addictive.’ —Kimberly Belle, USA Today–bestselling author of The Marriage Lie
Genre: Mystery
Praise for this book
"Secrets and family drama are at the heart of Brenda Novak's Before We Were Strangers, in which a woman returns to her small Texas hometown determined to uncover the truth about her mother's disappearance. Novak's fans will devour this one, and the relentlessly twisty plot will win her some new fans, as well. This is the kind of book best swallowed in one sitting: suspenseful, surprising, and 100% addictive." - Kimberly Belle
"Brenda Novak's seamless plotting, emotional intensity, and true-to-life characters who jump off the page make her books completely satisfying. Novak is simply a great storyteller." - Allison Brennan
"What a book! Before We Were Strangers is dark and compelling, an excellent thriller with heart-pounding twists, full of secrets and lies, and all too real. This is Novak at her sweet and sinister best in a story that could be happening in the house next door. Who is telling the truth? You won't know until the explosive end..." - J T Ellison
"Teeming with riveting, hold-your-breath suspense, Brenda Novak's Before We Were Strangers is a chilling exploration into how far one will go to discover the truth no matter the cost. Novak is at the top of her game with this gripping thriller. Prepare to be up all night!" - Heather Gudenkauf
"Riveting drama and suspense from a master of the craft. I loved this twisty tale of friends, enemies, lovers, liars, and a family fractured by secrets. It's the perfect read to cozy up to on a long winter night." - Susan Wiggs
"Brenda Novak's seamless plotting, emotional intensity, and true-to-life characters who jump off the page make her books completely satisfying. Novak is simply a great storyteller." - Allison Brennan
"What a book! Before We Were Strangers is dark and compelling, an excellent thriller with heart-pounding twists, full of secrets and lies, and all too real. This is Novak at her sweet and sinister best in a story that could be happening in the house next door. Who is telling the truth? You won't know until the explosive end..." - J T Ellison
"Teeming with riveting, hold-your-breath suspense, Brenda Novak's Before We Were Strangers is a chilling exploration into how far one will go to discover the truth no matter the cost. Novak is at the top of her game with this gripping thriller. Prepare to be up all night!" - Heather Gudenkauf
"Riveting drama and suspense from a master of the craft. I loved this twisty tale of friends, enemies, lovers, liars, and a family fractured by secrets. It's the perfect read to cozy up to on a long winter night." - Susan Wiggs
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