Girl in the rearview mirror : a novel / Kelsey Rae Dimberg.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

An Entertainment Weekly hottest read of the summer * A USA Today hottest read of the week * A Refinery29 best thriller of June * A New York Post best book of the week

"With hairpin twists and immense psychological acuity, Kelsey Rae Dimberg's Girl in the Rearview Mirror is as seductive as the glamorous, privileged family at its center--and as cunning. An exciting, intoxicating debut, it will hold you until its startling final pages." -- Megan Abbott, bestselling author of Dare Me and Give Me Your Hand

I never meant to lie. That is, I never wanted to.



They are Phoenix's First Family: handsome Philip Martin, son of the sitting Senator, an ex-football player who carries himself with an easy grace and appears destined to step into his father's seat when the time is right; his wife Marina, the stylish and elegant director of Phoenix's fine arts museum; and their four-year-old daughter Amabel, beautiful and precocious and beloved.

Finn Hunt is working a dull office job to pay off her college debt when she meets Philip and charms Amabel. She eagerly agrees to nanny, thinking she's lucked into the job of a lifetime. Though the glamour of the Martins' lifestyle undeniably dazzles Finn, her real pleasure comes from being part of the family: sharing quick jokes with Philip in the kitchen before he leaves for work; staying late when Marina needs a last-minute sitter; and spending long days with Amabel, who is often treated more like a photo op than a child.

But behind every façade lurks a less attractive truth. When a young woman approaches Finn, claiming a connection with Philip and asking Finn to pass on a message, Finn becomes caught up in a web of deceit with the senate seat at its center. And Finn isn't exactly innocent herself: she too has a background she has kept hidden, and under the hot Phoenix sun, everything is about to be laid bare. . . .

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

In Dimberg's almost dizzyingly twisty debut, Finn Hunt escapes a problematic past to secure a job as nanny to four-year-old Amabel Martin, the feisty granddaughter of Sen. Jim Martin of Arizona. Finn's bright future includes a blossoming romance with one of the senator's top aides, Bryant Dewitt. But she's about to discover that even deeply buried secrets, her own as well as the Martins', have a way of surfacing-with life-shattering consequences. The first hint of trouble is the attractive young woman named Iris who Amabel insists has been following them at campaign stops. When Finn finally confronts Iris, Iris makes a claim that could be damaging to the senator's restaurateur son and the senator's campaign if made public. But in the first of a series of bad decisions, rather than turning to Bryant for help with the matter, Finn embarks on some increasingly risky (and far-fetched) sleuthing. With a few wobbles, the plot speeds to the bombshell final betrayal. Dimberg's evocative prose and affecting characters flag her as a writer to watch. Agent: Dan Conaway, Writers House. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Booklist Review

When tragedy strikes, the members of an influential Arizona family prove how far they will go to maintain a wholesome public image. Finn Hunt loves everything about her job caring for Senator Martin's sweet granddaughter, Amabel: her closeness with Amabel, Philip and Marina Martin's glamorous desert home, and, above all, the feeling of being useful. But Finn's bliss is threatened when she's confronted by Iris, who claims to be pregnant with Philip's child and begs Finn to persuade him to talk to her. Otherwise, she's going public, and the scandal will collapse Amabel's (and Finn's) world. Despite Finn's best efforts, Iris contacts Marina, and weeks of marital strife end in tragedy when Amabel, thought to be napping, drowns in the pool. Suddenly ousted from the Martins' circle and threatened by Iris' increasing viciousness, Finn becomes obsessed with discovering a link between Iris' manipulations and Amabel's death. Although the novel is hampered by disconnected plotlines and an underweight conclusion, Finn's raw, relatable perspective will hook readers. Dimberg is one to watch.--Christine Tran Copyright 2019 Booklist