Introduction

“One of the best thrillers of the year”--The New York Times

"The book is many things: a crime story, a psychological study, a blueprint for how and when to mete out information in a thriller. But most of all it is an inquiry into the mysteries of marriage and commitment, and into what we owe our spouses and one another." --The New York Times Book Review

Prepare yourself for a thrilling, addictive novel about marriage, betrayal, and the secrets that push us to the edge in this next book from the bestselling author of The Good Sister and The Younger Wife.

Picture a lovely cottage on a cliff, with sloping lawns, walking paths, and beautiful flowers. It’s Gabe and Pippa Gerard’s dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Over the past several months, Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge.

Until one day, he doesn’t. When Pippa discovers Gabe knew the victim, the questions spiral. . . .Did the victim jump? Was she pushed? And would Gabe, the love of Pippa’s life, her soulmate . . . lie? As the perfect façade of their marriage begins to crack, the deepest and darkest secrets begin to unravel. Because sometimes, the most convincing lies are the ones we tell ourselves.

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Excerpt

1

PIPPA

(NOW)


“Someone is out there.”

I’m standing at the kitchen sink, my hands plunged in warm soapy water. Gabe is beside me, supposedly drying dishes but mostly drinking red wine and singing to Edith Piaf. He made coq au vin for dinner using every pot in the house, but if there is one thing to be said for my husband it’s that he knows how to create a mood. He’s dimmed the lights, lit some candles, even trotted out his best French accent. If not for the kids and my older sister, Kat—who is perched at my kitchen counter—it might have been romantic. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

From the publisher:

1. The novel opens with an intense scene: a woman is standing on the edge of the cliff outside of Gabe and Pippa’s house, and she seems to be contemplating jumping. How do you think this chapter sets the tone for the rest of the novel?

2. How did Amanda’s perspective contribute to your reading of the novel? How did her perspective contribute to the overall plot? Did you enjoy having her perspective in between life and death?

3. The book explores the concept of responsibility that people have to one another in marriage through Gabe and Pippa and Max and Amanda. Discuss the differences and similarities in their marriages.

4. The theme of honesty is challenged throughout the novel. Every character in this novel withheld the truth in some way. Do you think lying and withholding the truth are the same? Is one more problematic than the other? Are there situations in which it is okay to lie or withhold the truth?

5. How did the multiple perspectives affect your reading of the novel? How would the story be different if it were told from just one perspective?

6. What was your impression of Gabe at the beginning of the novel? How did it change throughout? What was the defining moment in which your impression changed?

7. Were you surprised to discover who Asha’s biological mother was? How did this affect your impression of Pippa?

8. How did the connection between Max and Gabe make you feel? Did you suspect they were related?

9. In the last chapter, Pippa says, “What I do know is that the bipolar disorder wasn’t responsible for his actions. In the past, I’d always found it hard to visualize the line where his illness ended and his free will began. Now I see it. His illness hadn’t lied to me. His illness hadn’t covered up his mistakes and said that it was for my sake.” Do you agree? Where do you draw the line between Gabe’s mental illness and free will?

10. In the final line of the novel, Pippa says, “Gabriel Gerard isn’t the only one who can make magic. I can make magic too.” Have you ever been in a relationship where the other person felt like “magic”? Is this a positive or negative dynamic? Discuss.

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