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There are one million new books published each year. With so many books and so little time, where do you begin to find your next must-read? There’s the New York Times Bestseller list, the Goodreads app, the Cape Library’s Staff picks shelf and now Martin’s Must-Reads.Every Wednesday at 6:42 and 8:42 a.m., and Sunday at 8:18 a.m., Betty Martin recommends a must read based on her own personal biases for historical fiction, quirky characters and overall well-turned phrases. Her list includes WWII novels, biographies of trailblazers, novels with truly unique individuals and lots more. Reading close to 100 titles a year, Betty has plenty of titles to share.Local support for "Martin's Must Reads" comes from the Cape Girardeau Public Library and the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library.

Martin's Must Reads: 'You Are Not Alone'

It seems that one of the perks of reviewing books for a public radio station is to receive complimentary copies of upcoming new books.  That’s what possessed me to read today’s suspense title .. a genre I don’t usually indulge in because, well, I like to sleep at night!

I’m Betty Martin with "Martin’s Must Reads" and today I’m reviewing You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. It’s a suspense novel about eight women, seven of whom are friends, in a very unique type of club.

Cassandra and Jane are sisters who have their own PR firm, Beth is a public defender and a cancer survivor, Valerie is a wannabe actor, Stacey is a computer whiz, Daphne is a boutique owner and rape survivor, Amanda is an ER nurse and Shay, the outsider of the group, is a temp worker.

As the story begins, Shay is on a NY subway platform when she watches Amanda commit suicide by jumping in front of an arriving train. Witnessing this tragedy has such a strong emotional impact on Shay that she attends Amanda’s memorial service where she first meets Cassandra and Jane, the apparent ringleaders of the “club.” As Cassandra and Jane attempt to determine what Shay’s interest is in Amanda, the web becomes very tangled indeed. I could hear the eerie music playing in my head as I read the book.

As the book progresses, the authors slowly reveal more clues as to just what this club’s activities entail and the motives behind them.  These two authors have collaborated well...the writing is seamless.

If you like a novel that presents an elaborate picture of revenge, then you must read You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. 
 

Betty Martin was born in Boston, Massachusetts to a Lutheran pastor and his organist wife. Betty’s love of books was inspired by her father who read to all four children each night.
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