Title: Find You First by Linwood Barclay
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 444 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss
Summary:
The New York Times bestselling author of Elevator Pitch and master of psychological suspense returns with a riveting thriller in which the possible heirs of a dying tech millionaire are mysteriously being eliminated, one by one
Tech millionaire Miles Cookson has more money than he can ever spend, and everything he could dream of—except time. He has recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and there is a fifty percent chance that it can be passed on to the next generation. For Miles, this means taking a long hard look at his past . . .
Two decades ago, a young, struggling Miles was a sperm donor. Somewhere out there, he has kids—nine of them. And they might be about to inherit both the good and the bad from him—maybe his fortune, or maybe something much worse.
As Miles begins to search for the children he’s never known, aspiring film documentarian Chloe Swanson embarks on a quest to find her biological father, armed with the knowledge that twenty-two years ago, her mother used a New York sperm bank to become pregnant.
When Miles and Chloe eventually connect, their excitement at finding each other is overshadowed by a series of mysterious and terrifying events. One by one, Miles’s other potential heirs are vanishing—every trace of them wiped, like they never existed at all.
Who is the vicious killer—another heir methodically erasing rivals? Or is something even more sinister going on?
It’s a deadly race against time . . .
Review:
Find You First by Linwood Barclay is a fast-paced, suspense-laden mystery.
Tech millionaire Miles Cookson receives a devastating diagnosis that is fatal and hereditary. In his early twenties, he made a “deposit” at a local fertility clinic when he was running short on cash. Miles decides the only ethical he can do is locate any children he might have through the clinic. Fertility doctor Martin Gold refuses to provide him with the names, but Miles refuses to take “no” for an answer. Now with a list of the names in hand, his very competent staff tracks down their addresses for him. Informing his brother, Gilbert, of his plan, Miles first meets Chloe Swanson who works as a waitress while dreaming of becoming a film documentarian. When Chloe makes a puzzling discovery, she and Miles pair up to try to try to find answers
Chloe is an outspoken and spunky young woman. She recently submitted her DNA to an ancestry website in order to locate her father or any siblings. Delighted to discover a half-brother near by, the two meet and begin getting to know each other. Disappointed not to have other matches, Chloe is absolutely delighted when Miles locates her.
Miles’ arrival comes on the heels of Chloe making a puzzling discovery, and they first attempt to understand what is going on with her recent acquaintance. Unfortunately, Miles and Chloe don’t make much progress in their investigation. When they learn someone else on Miles’ list is missing, they decide to find the other people on his list in order to warn them they might be in danger.
Find You First is a gripping mystery that grabs keeps readers’ attention right from the first chapter. Miles’ diagnosis comes as a shock and takes his attention off his business as he determinedly carries out his plan. Chloe is stubborn and adamant about her decision to get to the bottom of the diabolical scheme that is unfolding. With stunning plots, Linwood Barclay brings this brilliant mystery to an action-packed conclusion. I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend this clever mystery to fans of the genre.
