Novel tells poignant story

‘If I Die Tonight’ will be one of 2018’s best

realtor in the tightknit town of Havenkill, New York; her sons Wade, 17, and Connor, 13; and her own depression. Connor is smart, popular and always trying to make things easier for his mother. Wade, however, has been distant, holing up in his room, disappearing for hours and nearly ostracized from his classmates. Wade becomes the likely suspect when high school football star Liam Miller is left in a coma while trying to prevent a carjacking. Former pop star Amy Nathanson, who had one mega-hit as singer Aimee En during the 1980s, claims Liam was trying to protect her and keep her vintage Jaguar from being stolen. As the community reels from the crime, Havenkill police officer Pearl Maze sharpens her investigative skills, while dealing with her own dark side.

Gaylin ladles the poignant “If I Die Tonight” with surprises while never succumbing to the obvious or cliched. Each character is believable, and their flaws and fears add to their humanity. Wade’s isolation isn’t just a family matter; the suspicion that falls on him also affects Jackie, Connor and Noah, who is Connor’s best friend. The crisp dialogue and insightful look at life in a small town become fodder for the suspenseful story.

“If I Die Tonight” never falters in its excellent illustration of people on the edge, and it joins the ranks of those mysteries that will prove to be one of the best published in 2018. ___ Online:

Oline H. Cogdill THE ASSOCIATED PRESS