Sunday, October 27, 2024

April Storm

April Storm by Leila Meacham
11/12/24; 272 pages
HarperCollins

April Storm by Leila Meacham is a highly recommended domestic suspense novel for fans. It is being posthumously published after her death in 2021 at age 83.

Living in her dream house in Avon, Colorado, Kathryn Walker, is the 40-something wife of a successful orthopedic surgeon, Drew, and the mother of two adult children. April has always been a difficult month for Kathryn and this year is no different. It was the month their first child died and this year it seems that a private detective is following her. She thought it was a stalker, but local rancher and formerly military Special Forces officer Mike McCoy, notices the PI and warns her that he is tracking all her movements.

Then a library volunteer who happens to resemble Kathryn is deliberately hit by a car. It is clear that Kathryn was supposed to be the target and now she has an unknown man trying to kill her. Her husband, Drew, doesn't seem too concerned and is preoccupied with something else. Kathryn is concerned he is planning to leave her. McCoy has been privately looking into what is happening and protecting Kathryn while the two work to figure out who is responsible.

While Kathryn is a likable character, you will wonder why she doesn't simple directly confront her husband about her suspicions. Much of that whole stressful situation could have been eliminated with some realistic discussions rather than subterfuge. McCoy's inclusion and help is a little too fortuitous.

The suspense and suspicions run rampant in this carefully plotted novel. You will have to set disbelief aside for parts, but considering Meacham passed away before she could do some editing or revising, her novel does hold your attention and reaches a satisfying conclusion.

Fans who have been waiting for this final novel to be published will be pleased. Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

No comments: