Title: He Will Be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker
Publisher: Atria Books
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 352 pages
Book Rating: B+
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
The USA TODAY bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series makes her suspense debut with this sexy, heartpounding story of a young woman determined to find justice after her best friend’s death, a story pulsing with the “intense, hot, emotional” (Colleen Hoover) writing that exhilarates her legions of fans.
A woman who almost had it all . . .
On the surface, Celine Gonzalez had everything a twenty-eight-year-old woman could want: a one-bedroom apartment on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, a job that (mostly) paid the bills, and an acceptance letter to the prestigious Hollingsworth Institute of Art, where she would finally live out her dream of becoming an antiques appraiser for a major auction house. All she had worked so hard to achieve was finally within her reach. So why would she kill herself?
A man who was supposed to be her salvation . . .
Maggie Sparkes arrives in New York City to pack up what’s left of her best friend’s belongings after a suicide that has left everyone stunned. The police have deemed the evidence conclusive: Celine got into bed, downed a lethal cocktail of pills and vodka, and never woke up. But when Maggie discovers a scandalous photograph in a lock box hidden in Celine’s apartment, she begins asking questions. Questions about the man Celine fell in love with. The man she never told anyone about, not even Maggie. The man Celine believed would change her life.
Until he became her ruin.
On the hunt for evidence that will force the police to reopen the case, Maggie uncovers more than she bargained for about Celine’s private life—and inadvertently puts herself on the radar of a killer. A killer who will stop at nothing to keep his crimes undiscovered.
Review:
With a labyrinthine plot and plenty of dark secrets, He Will Be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker is spellbinding mystery that keeps readers guessing what exactly happened to Maggie Sparkes’ best friend Celine Gaonzalez.
Best friends since childhood, Maggie and Celine come from completely different backgrounds and live very different lives. Wealthy heiress Maggie puts her trust fund to good use funding the philanthropic organization she founded. Not content to just write checks and raise money, Maggie also invests plenty of sweat equity in the foundation as she works side by side the other volunteers in some of the world’s poorest and most remote regions. Celine, on the other hand, is from humble beginnings and she is barely scraping by as she saves money to complete her degree in hopes of landing a job with a prestigious auction house. Maggie is stunned to learn of Celine’s shocking death and she cannot accept that her friend committed suicide. While packing up Celine’s apartment, she discovers stunning secrets that convince her there is more to Celine’s death than meets the eye. Maggie hires a private investigator to help uncover the truth but she puts herself in danger when she continues investigating on her own.
Maggie is quite idealistic but with her wealthy background, she is rather insulated from the realities of normal life. Tenacious, determined and strong willed, she refuses to give up on finding out the truth about what happened to Celine. Maggie’s quest leads to her to make some questionable decisions but it is difficult to find fault with her refusal to give up on getting answers about Celine’s death.
Growing up with a single mom who struggled financially, Celine wants a better life for herself. With an astute eye for antiques, she scours estate and garages sales for hidden treasures and her collection of valuable pieces is quite extensive. Too proud to accept Maggie’s offers of financial assistance, Celine supplements her meager pay in a somewhat unorthodox manner. Finally on the verge of moving forward with her plans when a major setback occurs, Celine ends up on a crash course with disaster.
The secondary cast of characters is eclectic and entertaining. Celine’s octogenarian neighbor Ruby Cummings is endearing and her astute observations are invaluable. Laidback building super Grady is quite charming and Maggie finds him too sexy to resist. Several clues point Maggie to wealthy, successful hedge fund financier Jace Everett but he does not seem to have a motive to harm Celine. Private investigator Doug Murphy is relentless in his pursuit of answers and his trusty computer expert Zac is rather colorful yet likable.
He Will Be My Ruin is a twisty, turny suspense laden mystery that is quite riveting. Intricately plotted with clever misdirects and well-placed red herrings, K.A. Tucker brilliantly obscures the perpetrator’s identity until virtually the end of the novel. Although a few loose ends are left dangling, this mesmerizing whodunit is a satisfying, smart read that is sure to be a hit with fans of the genre.
