THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING by Lisa Scottoline

4 stars

Julia Pritzer, living in Tuscany with her young daughter and Italian husband, has slowly rebuilt her life and her happiness after her first husband was killed on the streets of New York. Julia has for the most part put aside her moments of clairvoyance, particularly around her husband’s death, when she gets a sudden urge to phone her best childhood friend Courtney – just at the moment that she discovers that her beloved grandmother has been shot dead at her home in rural Pennsylvania and sees a man escaping out the back door.

Julie immediately catches a flight to be with Courtney, much to the chagrin of her young daughter who experiences intense and ongoing separation anxiety – so much so that her pediatrician calls in a possible case of child abuse on her husband who’s been on single parent duty for the weeks that Julia is away. This creates ongoing tension around loyalties: should Julia abandon her family to be by Courtney’s side, or does she need to step in given the extremity of her daughter’s reaction?

Fortunately, this subplot takes second stage as corrupt local police charge Courtney with her grandmother’s murder, jailed without bail as it’s a murder charge, and Julia’s launched into an investigation to prove her innocence. This investigation takes innumerable twists, as it involves both conspiracies, historical racism, deep corruption and terrorism.

The mystery and thrills carry the day as the truth of what’s going on gets slowly revealed through Julia’s tenacity and insights.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.