"A riveting debut novel of psychological suspense about a young archivist whose obsession with her subject's mysterious death threatens to destroy her fragile grasp on sanity"-- Callinas, California. Famed photographer Miranda Brand died mysteriously at the height of her career. Decades later her son, Theo, hires ex-journalist Kate Aitken to create an archive of his mother's work. As Kate pieces together a portrait of a vibrant artist buckling under the pressures of ambition, motherhood, and marriage, she unearths shocking details of Miranda's private life-- and develops a growing attraction to the enigmatic Theo. But Kate has secrets of her own. When she finds a diary that may finally resolve the mystery of Miranda's death, curiosity spirals into a dangerous obsession. -- adapted from jacket

When the famed photographer Miranda Brand died mysteriously at the height of her career, it sent shock waves through Callinas, California. Decades later, old wounds are reopened when her son, Theo, hires ex-journalist Kate Aitken to create an archive of his mother's work. From Miranda's vast maze of personal effects, Kate pieces together a portrait of a vibrant artist buckling under the pressures of ambition, motherhood, and marriage. As the summer progresses, Kate navigates vicious local rumors and her growing attraction to the enigmatic Theo, all while unearthing the shocking details of Miranda's private life. But Kate has secrets of her own, and when she stumbles across a diary that may finally resolve the mystery of Miranda's death, her curiosity starts to spiral into a dangerous obsession.