Other pieces of the mystery involve Mitchell Slack, who in ‘79 was breaking up with his girlfriend and coming to terms with his homosexuality, and his malevolent older brother Ray, a mysterious hood who played some role in Grace and Lee’s short time together—and in whatever event changed everyone’s lives forever. Over multiple trips to Hawaii, the painter uncovers as much of the truth as possible. Setting the narrative largely in 1979, revealing what the narrator has uncovered, Zettler skillfully presents characters that are neither good nor bad but persuasive shades of gray, with the compelling exception of Ray, whose eventual encounter with karma proves satisfying. Unhappily married Grace, who can’t quite kick smoking, has packed a .38 revolver in her suitcase, while Vietnam vet-turned-restaurateur Lee, still coming to terms with his war experiences, learns that he knows Grace’s husband only after he and Grace have relished stolen hours together.

In sharp, memorable prose, Zettler deftly ties a bundle of story lines into one gripping narrative, teasing the final revelations in a way that will have readers itching to arrive at the truth at last. This glimpse of late-70s Hawaii rings true, and readers interested in the mysteries of convincingly real people will be captivated until the final page is turned.

Takeaway: A skillful, emotional dive into late ‘70s Hawaii and a mother’s secret past.

Great for fans of: Liane Moriarty’s The Husband's Secret, Jasmin Darznik’s The Good Daughter.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-