Before you meet him

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The prodigiously talented author of *A Class Worthy of Killing* delights us with the gripping tale of young suburban painter Hen, whose history of mental instability leads her to murder. After years of grueling attempts to manage her bipolar disorder, Hen has finally settled on the right medication. She finds some peace and tranquility. But when she meets the couple next door, Hen's composure is shattered by a familiar sight in the husband's study. It looks exactly like something connected to a murder years ago—one of the few pieces of evidence in a disturbing, unsolved case. Hen recognizes it immediately; her long-standing obsession with that unsolved case has consumed her for years—an obsession she no longer speaks of, yet can't seem to let go of. Could her neighbor, Matthew, be a murderer? Or could this be the start of another episode of madness, like the one she had in college, when she became consumed by guilt over a friend and ended up hurting someone else? The more Hein watched Matthew, the more she suspected he was planning something truly terrifying. But no one would believe her. Then one night, when Hein stood face to face with Matthew in the darkness, she realized he knew she was watching him, that she was indeed stalking him. And so began the terrifying nightmare that she might not even have a chance to escape.

"Truly! What a gripping read!" – Entertainment Weekly. "It felt like a dagger to the ribs" – Joe Hill. "A tantalizing, chilling thriller" – Lee Child. "More than just painful surprises" – Huffington Post. "What an extraordinary novel!" – Publishers Weekly (Featured Review). "A sharply intelligent piece of writing" – San Francisco Book Review. "It sends you down a delicious chill, like the one you get when you think about that monster under the bed" – Booklist (Featured Review). "Full of intrigue and surprise, brimming with ecstasy, greed, and betrayal" – Library Journal. "A thrilling, unpredictable, and suspenseful ride" – Dennis Lien. "Full of twisting plots" – Boston Globe. "Reminiscent of Patricia Highsmith's dual-madness trilogy" – Wall Street Journal. "An exceptionally well-crafted work" – Nelson DeMille. "A captivating exploration of illusions and deceptions; sure to appeal to readers of Laura Lippmann's standalone novels."