Widower Kane Black is still ruinously married to his late wife, Lily. There are too many questions, too few answers, and too much at stake. Three women, linked by buried secrets, circle the man who unquestioningly accepts the return of his beloved long-dead wife. Propulsive and sly, So Close is a lushly gothic novel of domestic suspense with the emotional intensity, scorching sensuality, and complex exploration of female trauma that are the hallmarks of multimillion-copy international bestseller Sylvia Day.
The perfect first entry of a two-book series, So Close drew me in and kept me reading, desperate to know what happened next. Domestic suspense at its sexiest. Manhattan glitters in the vast night enfolding the penthouse tower. Clouds froth against the floor-to-ceiling windows, at turns obscuring then revealing the stygian spread of Central Park and its reservoir far below. The tower creaks as it sways ever so slightly in gusts of evening wind, the plaintive sound hidden beneath the music and sea of conversation.
Within the glass walls, tension seethes. Dangerous electricity charges the air, the inevitable result of confining rivals in a neutral space. Restrained by decorum and the fear of losing face, adversaries bristle, claws and fangs only briefly and resentfully sheathed. The event is a black-tie reception in honor of a new cosmeceutical line.
Among them are celebrated friendships and infamous feuds. Like chess players, the guests have chosen their positions for the best advantage. As regretful as their discord is, I can still admire the purity of their open dislike of one another. Not even a surreptitious peek. The spaces between these key players are filled with reality television personalities and influencers, models and musicians.
Bursts of light bounce off the glittering dresses and wide windows as mobiles capture a seemingly endless number of selfies that will be shared with millions of followers. Most companies pay exorbitant fees for such photographic endorsements, but that is not the case tonight. Extravagant bouquets of Blacklist lilies decorate the sterling-silver tops of African blackwood tables, adding texture and glamour without colour or fragrance.
