Many years ago Melisandre Dawes had a mental breakdown and left her baby in a hot car. The child died. In the wake of that tragedy and the sensational trial where she plead not guilty by reason of insanity, she left her husband and their two older children, and fled the country. Now twelve years later Melisandre wants to reestablish contact with her now teenage daughters and has hired Tess Monaghan and her partner to provide security for her while she is in Baltimore.

Melisandre is one of those women everyone would envy. Confident, beautiful, rich, and intelligent, she commands attention and makes things happen the way she wants them. Tess, on the on the hand is a working mom juggling a demanding career as a PI and a demanding, strong willed toddler at home. Tess feels succesful if she has clean clothes to wear and is able to get her daughter to bed at a decent hour. Although Tess is intrigued by Melisandre, there is also something off putting about her as well. Was she really driven temporarily insane or was she a master manipulator? Is she cold and calculating or a mother who is concerned about her daughters’ well being? As these questions swirl, Tess and her partner must investigate the threatening letters that someone is leaving for Melisandre, but before they can get to the bottom of the threats, there is a murder and Melisandre, at the center of this maelstrom, is the prime suspect.

Distracted by the strange, cryptic notes she has received, Tess tries to focus on uncovering the truth about Melisandre. Most importantly Tess needs to determine whether Melisandre daughters need to be protected from their mother or whether Melisande needs to be protected from others. As Tess digs deeper she realizes that she must confront her own fears about what it means to be a good parent and what separates sanity from insanity before being able to uncover truth.

Creepy and intriguing, Lippman takes us where we would rather not go. What makes a good mother? Can a mother who killed her own child while suffering from temporary insanity ever be trusted with her children again? Lippman keeps the suspense taut and the plot twists and turns with each revelation. An altogether satisfying read!

Brenda’s Rating ****(4 out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Sharon, Keith and Marian

Book Study Worthy? yes

Read in ebook format