Boy - by Tami Hoag

Book Synopsis

Now a New York Times bestseller

An unfathomable loss or an unthinkable crime? #1 New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag keeps you guessing in her most harrowing thriller yet.

A panic-stricken woman runs in the dead of night, battered and bloodied, desperate to find help . . .

When Detective Nick Fourcade enters the home of Genevieve Gauthier outside the sleepy town of Bayou Breaux, Louisiana, the bloody crime scene that awaits him is both the most brutal and the most confusing he's ever seen. Genevieve's seven-year-old son, KJ, has been murdered by an alleged intruder, yet Genevieve is alive and well, a witness inexplicably left behind to tell the tale. There is no evidence of forced entry, not a clue that points to a motive. Meanwhile, Nick's wife, Detective Annie Broussard, sits in the emergency room with the grieving Genevieve. A mother herself, Annie understands the emotional devastation this woman is going through, but as a detective she's troubled by a story that makes little sense. Who would murder a child and leave the only witness behind?

When the very next day KJ's sometimes babysitter, twelve-year-old Nora Florette, is reported missing, the town is up in arms, fearing a maniac is preying on their children. With pressure mounting from a tough, no-nonsense new sheriff, the media, and the parents of Bayou Breaux, Nick and Annie dig deep into the dual mysteries. But sifting through Genevieve Gauthier's tangled web of lovers and sorting through a cast of local lowlifes brings more questions than answers. Is someone from Genevieve's past or present responsible for the death of her son? Is the missing teenager, Nora, a victim, or something worse? Then everything changes when Genevieve's past as a convicted criminal comes to light.

The spotlight falls heavily on the grieving mother who is both victim and accused. Could she have killed her own child to free herself from the burden of motherhood, or is the loss of her beloved boy pushing her to the edge of insanity? Could she have something to do with the disappearance of Nora Florette, or is the troubled teenager the key to the murder? How far will Nick and Annie have to go to uncover the dark truth of the boy?

Review Quotes

Praise for The Boy

"[A] tightly plotted whodunnit . . . prepare to gasp."--People

"Thoughtful, character-driven . . . Hoag keeps the twists and turns coming all the way to the shocking conclusion."--Publishers Weekly

"You're going to be staying up late at night as the pages turn with this one."--New York Journal of Books

"Hoag puts on quite the juggling act here, dazzling us with multiple theories about the boy's murder, numerous potential suspects, and plot twists that keep us just slightly off-balance. A welcome return for a compelling investigative duo."--Booklist

"With her signature style in building up suspense as the plot develops, Hoag has written a commercial novel which is definitely a joy to read."--Mystery Tribune

"Husband-and-wife detective teams stretch back as far as Dashiell Hammett, but Hoag ensures that her pair have a very individual quality, encapsulated in their razor-sharp dialogue."--The Guardian (UK)

"This is the perfect book for suspense fans to while away a cold afternoon with."--AllAboutRomance.com

Praise for Tami Hoag and Her Novels

"Every Tami Hoag book is deviously plotted, compulsively page-turning, with dead-on dialogue and twisted characters. You're in the hands of a master with Tami Hoag."--New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline

"A masterful tale of two colliding cases that become one tightly coiled plot, The Bitter Season is Tami Hoag at her down-and-dirty best. Authentic, dark, and intense, this is a portrait of flawed characters on both sides of the law that will surprise you and make you laugh as you double-lock your doors."--New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen

"Tami Hoag is simply one of the best. And The Bitter Season--engrossing, atmospheric, and taut with suspense--is the work of a writer at the top her game. A chilling psychological thriller!"--New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger

"Tami Hoag gives us a female detective who's sharp-witted and gutsy as she deftly weaves two cases together for one heart-stopping finale. I couldn't put it down."--New York Times bestselling author Carol Goodman on The Bitter Season

About The Author

TAMI HOAG is the #1 international bestselling author of more than thirty books. There are more than forty million copies of her books in print in more than thirty languages. Renowned for combining thrilling plots with character-driven suspense, Hoag first hit the New York Times bestseller list with Night Sins, and each of her books since has been a bestseller. She lives in CA.