“One Small Sacrifice
(a Thriller)” (Thomas & Mercer) by Hilary Davidson
Photojournalist Alex Traynor lost his friend Cori to suicide a year ago. Detective Sheryn Sterling tried very hard to prove that Traynor pushed Cori off a ledge rather than the case closing with her jumping off a roof. Even though he claims to have no memory of the events that resulted in Cori’s death, Sterling knows Traynor is guilty.
Traynor has moved on and is about to marry Emily, a doctor. When Emily disappears, Sterling investigates and discovers connections to Cori’s death. Now she’s certain Traynor is responsible, but can she prove it and put him away for good?
She starts to get different and varying statements from witnesses. Traynor swears he’s innocent and wants Sterling to find his fiancee. Has she made a mistake in believing he was guilty or is he even more manipulative than she previously thought?
The story line veers between alternate points of view with Traynor and Sterling, and their perspectives on the same information provide different results. Writing the novel in this fashion amps up the suspense while also giving the narrative a complex and compelling flair. In addition, Davidson does an admirable job of making a complicated issue such as PTSD relatable.
With an unpredictable ending and evidence that this is the start of a series, definitely check out “One Small Sacrifice.” Jeff Ayers, AP
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