Nothing Without Me

British movie director April Eden is about to hit it big. Her film The Vanished Woman has been nominated for a prestigious award, and its star, April’s friend Essie Lay, is expected to win awards as well. When Essie tells April she plans to skip the awards ceremony, April and her boyfriend, Jags, go over to convince her otherwise. Once at Essie’s house, however, they discover Essie facedown in the pool. Jags convinces April to leave the body to be found by someone else. They wait in vain for news of Essie’s death, but none is forthcoming, and they soon discover that the body has disappeared. Is Essie dead or part of an elaborate hoax? As pressure mounts, the characters’ true natures come to light. Takhar’s (Such a Good Mother) story of betrayal and redemption underlines the cost of fame, especially for women in the film industry. Kristin Atherton narrates April’s and Essie’s POVs in alternating chapters. Atherton expertly voices the emotions necessary to convey the tension and uncertainty that drive the story.