For several years, time and circumstance have managed to separate Hallie Knight and her old friend Susan Trench. But when Susan disappears from her grandfather's seaside home on historic Topsail Island, it is Hallie whom Nicholas Trench calls for help. Wealthy, ill, and irascible, he refuses to believe that his beloved granddaughter and the heir to his fortune has been lost to him. He is certain that if anyone can find Susan, it will be her closest friend, the woman who knows her better than anyone else. When Hallie arrives from California, she finds the old man surrounded by an odd collection of friends and relatives, all of whom seem to know a little more than they're willing to tell about Susan Trench and her last days on Topsail. As the threads intertwine, Hallie must confront painful questions that build toward what may be a fearful answer.
Phyllis A. Whitney (1903–2008) was born of American parents in Yokohama, Japan. She worked with books throughout her life as a librarian, bookseller, reviewer, writing teacher, and bestselling author. She was one of America’s most successful writers of romance and suspense and in 1988 won the Grand Master Award from the Mystery Writers of America.
Anna Fields was born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. A scriptwriter for As the World Turns, she is also a successful playwright and stand-up comedian. She now lives in New York City.