Book excerpt: Childhood friends reunite years after a shattering tragedy in this “compelling page-turner” by the New York Times–bestselling author (Kirkus Reviews, starred review). When Andrew was about to leave his small upstate New York town for college, tragedy struck the beautiful girl next door, Eden Close. An adopted child, Eden had learned to avoid the mother who did not want her and to please the father who did. She also aimed to please Andrew and his friends, first by being one of the boys and later by seducing them. Then one hot night, Andrew was awakened by gunshots and piercing screams from the next farm: Mr. Close had been killed and Eden blinded. Now, seventeen years later, Andrew returns to his upstate New York hometown to attend his mother’s funeral, and begins to uncover the grisly story––to unravel the layers of thwarted love between the husband, wife, and tormented girl. And as the truth about Eden’s past comes to light, so too does Andrew’s strange and binding attachment to her . . . “Eden’s story has the heightened emotions, the dark, brooding atmosphere of a Southern gothic novel . . . Shreve demonstrates her ability to create highly vivid, sympathetic people.” —The New York Times “Beautifully rendered scenes.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Shreve simply has the Gift—the ability to hook you from the first page and not let go until the final word.” —The Washington Post Book World