Synopses & Reviews
A stunningly complex and atmospheric crime novel from Edgar Awardwinning author Meg Gardiner, Ransom River features a deeply flawed, compelling heroine, a murder trial, and the long-unsolved mystery it exposes.
Rory Mackenzie is juror number seven on a high-profile murder case in her hometown of Ransom River, California. Its a place she vowed never to visit again, after leaving behind its surfeit of regret and misfortune and the specter of a troubled past that threatened to disturb the towns peaceful façade.
Brilliant yet guarded, Rory has always felt like an outsider. She retreated into herself when both her career aspirations and her love affair with a childhood friend, undercover cop Seth Colder, were destroyed in a tragic accident.
While most of the town is focused on the tense and shocking circumstances of the trial, Rorys return to Ransom River dredges up troubling memories from her childhood that she can no longer ignore. But in the wake of a desperate attack on the courthouse, Rory realizes that exposing these dark skeletons has connected her to an old case that was never solved, and bringing the truth to light just might destroy her.
Departing from her popular series novels, Meg Gardiner has gone deeper than ever into the utterly convincing lives and compelling pasts of her characters. Ransom River is an intimate crime thriller with a dark mystery at its heartone that will keep readers breathless until the very last page.
Review
"Meg Gardiner is as good as Michael Connelly and far better than Janet Evanovich...The next suspense superstar."
-Stephen King
Review
"Meg Gardiner is an astonishing writer; and
The Dirty Secrets Club is a humdinger of a thriller, with shocks and twists galore. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough."
-Tess Gerritsen
Review
"If you read Sue Grafton, Lee Child, Janet Evanovich, Michael Connelly, or Nelson DeMille, you're going to think Meg Gardiner is a gift from heaven."
—Stephen King
Review
"Stephen King is absolutely right. Meg Gardiner is an astonishing writer...I couldn't turn the pages fast enough."
— Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Bone Garden
Review
"Crisp writing and a breathless plot make this a must-read for both newcomers and fans of [Gardiner's] Jo Beckett and Evan Delaney series."
— Booklist
Review
"Edgar Award winner Gardiner (
China Lake) delivers another smashing hit."
— Library Journal
Review
“The next suspense superstar.”—Stephen King
“Everything you want in a blockbuster thriller: multiple plot twists, thoroughly creepy psychotic villains, [and] danger at every turn.”—The Associated Press
“‘Thrill ride is just too tame a description for Ransom River.”—The Florida Times-Union
Synopsis
JUDGE, JURYAND EXECUTION. You cant go home againand survivein this mesmerizing crime novel by Meg Gardiner, a top-tier mystery writer at the top of her game” (BookPage).
Rory Mackenzie vowed to never return to her hometown of Ransom River, California. But she comes back and does her civic duty. Now shes juror number seven on a high-profile murder case.
While most of the town is focused on the tense and shocking circumstances of the trial, Rorys return to Ransom River dredges up troubling memories from her childhood that she can no longer ignore. And in the wake of a desperate attack on the courthouse, Rory realizes exposing these dark skeletons has connected her to an old case that was never solved, and that bringing the truth to light just might destroy her.
Synopsis
JUDGE, JURYAND EXECUTION. You cant go home againand survivein this mesmerizing crime novel by Meg Gardiner, a top-tier mystery writer at the top of her game” (BookPage).
Rory Mackenzie vowed to never return to her hometown of Ransom River, California. But she comes back and does her civic duty. Now shes juror number seven on a high-profile murder case.
While most of the town is focused on the tense and shocking circumstances of the trial, Rorys return to Ransom River dredges up troubling memories from her childhood that she can no longer ignore. And in the wake of a desperate attack on the courthouse, Rory realizes exposing these dark skeletons has connected her to an old case that was never solved, and that bringing the truth to light just might destroy her.
About the Author
Meg Gardiner previously practiced law and taught at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Originally from Southern California, she now lives with her family in London. The Dirty Secrets Club is her first novel published in the U.S. She will be promoting The Dirty Secrets Club on a national tour this summer.