The Woman He Loved Before
When Libby Rabvena meets Jack Britcham at a London car dealership, she thinks he is an arrogant man-child. She’s not wrong, but she marries him anyway because he is kind and funny. But Jack is still hurting over the death of his first wife, Eve. Or is he to blame for her accidental death? And what about the car accident that leaves Libby scarred inside and out? Then Libby discovers Eve’s diaries buried in the basement, and she realizes she is in danger. What starts out as the story of Libby battling her injuries and the ghosts of Jack’s past turns into a psychological thriller with a page-turning finale.  Portions of Eve’s diary are interjected into chapters narrated alternately by Libby and Jack, so that the reader is able to invest in all three main characters. Jack is sweet but not perfect. Libby is smart and a little caustic, but Eve has the most compelling story. Koomson deftly balances suspense and the traditional themes of women’s fiction as Libby nears the end of the diary and is forced to face her own painful recovery. --Susan Maguire