In a nutshell: Kate Green is a former soccer athlete who now works as a sports reporter in Greenwich, Connecticut. When the story opens we find that Kate’s life is somewhat turbulent at the moment, since she lost her temper after being provoked by NBA player Mason Burke, and has been suspended. She also has to contend with constant interference and aggravation from her ex-husband Tyler, who never hesitates to barge into her home and offer his opinions on how to raise their two teenaged children. On top of all this, a longtime personal friend, NBA athlete Kurt Robbins, is found murdered in his mansion. The prime suspect from the police chief’s perspective is Kate’s best friend and wife of the deceased, Yvette Robbins. Kate feels compelled to defend her best friend, and since she has time on her hands, she sets out to determine who the real murderer is, unwittingly endangering herself and her children.

Thoughts: This is a short and snappy thriller which moves at a lively pace. Kate Green is an interesting character – an independent and tough woman with initiative and a temper. She has put her ill-fated marriage in her rear-view mirror and is moving on with her reporting job and her close relationship with her two children. She is a realistically flawed character, losing control of her temper on the job and perhaps being a little too trusting of the people in her life. I found the rarified air of the uber-privileged, wealthy town a bit irritating, and there don’t seem to be any men in this novel with redeeming qualities. The absentee father is overbearing; the ex-husband is a philanderer and loudmouth; the police chief is a conceited camera hog seeking a promotion; and even the murder victim is a deceitful adulterer. Perhaps one decent man would have been a relief. Overall, this is a solid debut thriller which would appeal to readers who enjoy a good murder and a strong female protagonist.