Summer Reading Recs Part 5
Two psychological thrillers, one set in a memory care facility and the other in the world of opera
Jenny Cooper Has a Secret by Joy Fielding
What happens when a patient in a memory care facility confesses to murder? Linda Davidson, a new widow faithfully visiting her closest friend, a woman who no longer recognizes her, and navigating her new, highly volatile, living arrangements with her daughter and her son-in-law, is shocked by Jenny Cooper’s revelation. But is it true?
Drawn in by Jenny, who is the polar opposite of herself, Linda finds she cannot resist finding out if Jenny’s confession is true. What follows is a twisty exploration of trust, friendship and trauma.
Fielding handles dementia deftly, with grace and a light touch that feel authentic and never exploitative. The characters were engaging, and the pace was perfect.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
Jenny Cooper Has a Secret is out today!
The Understudy by Morgan Richter
Richter has done it again. I loved her previous thriller The Divide, which was full of twists. The Understudy is a tour-de-force of surprising twists and atmospheric danger, even while it provides a fascinating glimpse of what it takes to put on an opera. Bravo!
Check this out if you love opera, or really any theater. You will love the behind-the-scenes action, which is probably more dramatic and over-the-top than any opera!
Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for the opportunity to read an advance copy.
The Understudy is out today!