One of Us - by Tawni O'Dell (Paperback)

About the Book

"From the New York Times bestselling author of Back Roads comes a fast-paced literary thriller about a forensic psychologist forced to face his own demons after discovering his small hometown terrorized by a serial killer. Dr. Sheridan Doyle--a fastidiously groomed and TV-friendly forensic psychologist--is the go-to shrink for the Philadelphia District Attorney's office whenever a twisted killer's mind eludes other experts. But beneath his Armani pinstripes, he's still Danny Doyle, the awkward, terrified, bullied boy from a blue-collar mining family, plagued by panic attacks and haunted by the tragic death of his little sister and mental unraveling of his mother years ago. Danny returns home to Lost Creek, a town grappling with its own ghosts, and comes face-to-face with the town's legacy of violence--when a dead body is discovered at the famous gallows where a band of rebellious Irish miners was executed 100 years ago. The body also has an eerie connection to the wealthy mining family behind the miners' deaths. When he teams up with a veteran detective and father figure to get to the bottom of these heinous crimes, Danny realizes that he's dangerously close to uncovering haunting secrets from his own past... In this masterfully told psychological thriller in the vein of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl, the past and present collide to put Lost Creek's long-lived ghosts to bed"--

Book Synopsis

"A fearless exploration of the line between mental illness and true evil, a place many thriller writers visit but without the kind of fearless insights [Tawni] O'Dell reveals in this powerful novel" (The New York Times Book Review).

Dr. Sheridan Doyle--a fastidiously groomed and TV-friendly forensic psychologist--is the go-to shrink for the Philadelphia District Attorney's office whenever a twisted killer's mind eludes other experts. But beneath his Armani pinstripes, he's still Danny Doyle, the awkward, terrified, bullied boy from a blue-collar mining family, plagued by panic attacks and haunted by the tragic death of his little sister and mental unraveling of his mother years ago.

Returning to a hometown grappling with its own ghosts, Danny finds a dead body at the infamous Lost Creek gallows where a band of rebellious Irish miners was once executed. Strangely, the body is connected to the wealthy family responsible for the miners' deaths. Teaming up with veteran detective Rafe, a father-like figure from his youth, Danny--in pursuit of a killer--comes dangerously close to startling truths about his family, his past, and himself.

With "poignant...achingly beautiful prose" (San Diego Union) and "rich, compassionate storytelling" (Entertainment Weekly), O'Dell weaves a masterful, thrilling tale reminiscent of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl, where the past and present collide to put Lost Creek's long-lived ghosts to bed.

Review Quotes

"A fearless exploration of the line between mental illness and true evil, a place many thriller writers visit but without the kind of fearless insights O'Dell reveals in this powerful novel."-- "The New York Times Book Review"

"An evocative novel about murder and intrigue in a small mining town . . . compulsively readable."--Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of ORPHAN TRAIN

"A well-written psychological thriller that will appeal to fans of Gillian Flynn and Daniel Woodrell. "-- "Library Journal"

"Personal demons, childhood traumas and class warfare add up to a gritty tale of vengeance."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"Twists and turns and family secrets abound in this tightly plotted thriller."-- "Booklist"