FICTION

Hadley and Grace

Lake Union: Amazon. Jan. 2021. 347p. ISBN 9781542014380. pap. $14.95. F
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Hadley Torelli appears to be a happily doting housewife and mother, married to wealthy Frank and parent to teenage Mattie and her nephew, Skipper. While the devoted mom part is very real, Hadley is tired of enduring Frank’s abuse, and a planned trip to reunite Skipper with his biological mom is the perfect cover for their escape. Hadley just needs to retrieve the money that Frank has in a safe at work. However, her plan goes awry when she arrives at the office and finds Frank’s employee Grace there. Grace has her own husband issues—his latest gambling losses mean she can’t make rent and provide for their infant son. Complications in cracking the safe and an accident that happens in the process turn Hadley and Grace into unlikely allies as they team up to leave town together with their kids, but soon the FBI is after them and Frank’s dirty money.
VERDICT Redfearn’s latest (after In an Instant) starts as a domestic drama but quickly morphs into an unexpected Thelma & Louise–style adventure. The quickly moving story and well-drawn characters will keep readers turning pages even if the madcap road chase and happy ending seem unlikely.
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