Ten years ago, a serial killer in rural Pennsylvania lured Lori Cawley from the home where she was babysitting two 8-year-old girls and murdered her. Best friends Tessa and Callie were those two girls. Manipulated by police and their parents into testifying against the suspected killer, the girls have always wondered if they sent the wrong man to death row. They haven’t spoken since Tessa moved away after the trial. Now 18, Callie relies on alcohol to suppress her anxiety, and Tessa, who has been abandoned by both her mother and sister, returns to Pennsylvania to say goodbye to her dying father. Tessa’s visit stirs up questions, sending her on a dangerous hunt for answers.
The Darkest Corners is a suspenseful ride that’s really two mysteries in one: the location of Tessa’s sister and what really happened the night Lori was killed. Could Tessa’s sister be involved? A thriller at its core, the novel presents a layered view of how family, friendships and even the flawed judicial system can tear people apart if they let it.
Kimberly Giarratano is the author of Grunge Gods and Graveyards, a young adult paranormal mystery.
This article was originally published in the May 2016 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.
