In an Instant - by Suzanne Redfearn (Paperback)

About the Book

"Life is over in an instant for sixteen-year-old Finn Miller when a devastating car accident tumbles her and ten others over the side of a mountain. Suspended between worlds, she watches helplessly as those she loves struggle to survive. Impossible choices are made, decisions that leave the survivors tormented with grief and regret. Unable to let go, Finn keeps vigil as they struggle to reclaim their shattered lives. Jack, her father, who seeks vengeance against the one person he can blame other than himself; her best friend, Mo, who bravely searches for the truth as the story of their survival is rewritten; her sister Chloe, who knows Finn lingers and yearns to join her; and her mother, Ann, who saved them all but is haunted by her decisions. Finn needs to move on, but how can she with her family still in pieces?"--

Book Synopsis

An Amazon Charts bestseller.

A deeply moving story of carrying on even when it seems impossible.

Life is over in an instant for sixteen-year-old Finn Miller when a devastating car accident tumbles her and ten others over the side of a mountain. Suspended between worlds, she watches helplessly as those she loves struggle to survive.

Impossible choices are made, decisions that leave the survivors tormented with grief and regret. Unable to let go, Finn keeps vigil as they struggle to reclaim their shattered lives. Jack, her father, who seeks vengeance against the one person he can blame other than himself; her best friend, Mo, who bravely searches for the truth as the story of their survival is rewritten; her sister Chloe, who knows Finn lingers and yearns to join her; and her mother, Ann, who saved them all but is haunted by her decisions. Finn needs to move on, but how can she with her family still in pieces?

Heartrending yet ultimately redemptive, In an Instant is a story about the power of love, the meaning of family, and carrying on...even when it seems impossible.

Review Quotes

A 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards Semifinalist: Best Fiction

"The characters are sensitively portrayed, as is their recovery, and the hopeful ending is realistic. Readers of domestic dramas will be enthralled." --Booklist

"Suzanne Redfearn's In an Instant (2019) is a remarkable book, which manages to be fast-paced and easily accessible to the casual reader, yet deeply satisfying and perceptive, providing insight into the nature of grief and loss..." --The Albuquerque Journal

"Suzanne Redfearn's latest is a wonder. A thoughtful exploration of life, death, and the world in between, In an Instant is a powerful and poignant read." --Mary Kubica, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

"In an Instant begins as an action-packed tale of survival that is positively addictive; then it digs deep into an emotional and thought-provoking exploration of our humanity and what it means to make difficult moral choices in the most harrowing of circumstances. Redfearn tackles it all brilliantly and compassionately in this mesmerizing and wondrous novel. It's a triumph on every level, and I absolutely loved it." --USA Today bestselling author Julianne MacLean

"When a sudden car accident shatters a family, they're left to pick up the pieces while trying to solve the mystery of just what happened that night. Redfearn deftly pivots from character to character in this multiple-points-of-view narrative, unraveling the past and weaving together a new future for the family. In an Instant is sure to please fans of The Lovely Bones and Big Little Lies." --Catherine McKenzie, bestselling author of The Good Liar and Hidden

"Suzanne Redfearn's In an Instant is part ghost story, part love letter to a family in crisis after a devastating accident in the midst of a brutal snowstorm. This cleverly crafted novel chronicles a heartbreaking journey from grief and despair to one of acceptance, forgiveness, and ultimately hope. Through Redfearn's luminous prose, In an Instant succeeds in building an unforgettable portrait of human frailty and strength in the face of unfathomable loss." --Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Weight of Silence and Before She Was Found

"In an Instant is a triumph! When tragedy strikes, two families are thrown into chaos as the lines of morality are blurred. Redfearn handles a family's shock and grief with the perfect balance of empathy and hope and will have you contemplating what really lies underneath the shiny veneer of those closest to you. Make In an Instant your first read of 2020." --Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, bestselling authors of Girls' Night Out

"Breathtaking, compelling, heart stopping, and original. An utter page turner--I couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend this unforgettable story. Kudos to Suzanne Redfearn." --Jane Porter, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

"Told in gripping prose, In an Instant is both an addictive, suspenseful read and a thoughtful exploration of what each of us would do in a time of intense trauma. Redfearn's characters are so real and the plot so mesmerizing I couldn't think about anything else. A must for book clubs!" --Anita Hughes, author of Rome in Love and Christmas in Vermont

"Suzanne Redfearn's latest, In an Instant, is a captivating, heartbreaking, but ultimately uplifting novel about a family's devastating tragedy and its aftermath. Reminiscent of The Lovely Bones, the story is told by sixteen-year-old Finn, who struggles to find closure for herself while watching her loved ones do the same. Redfearn deftly explores those split-second decisions that can alter our destinies and the guilt we hold on to, despite our need to let go. In an Instant reminds us what it is to be human--vulnerable, fallible, and also resilient and triumphant when we face our challenges with unity and love." --Janis Thomas, bestselling author of What Remains True and All That's Left of Me

"In the wake of a tragic car accident, the survivors are forced to make unimaginable choices in desperation to survive, spiraling into a heart-wrenching journey to live with those same choices afterward, forever haunting the ones they love and perceptions of self. Told through the perspective of a teenage girl whose life is cut short--her desperation to be alive and connected to her family is a reminder of how fragile the things we take for granted truly are. Suzanne Redfearn's In an Instant will make you thankful for every breath you take." --Kristin Fields, author of A Lily in the Light