An Inconvenient Woman
A Novel
by Stéphanie Buelens
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Pub Date Sep 01 2020 | Archive Date Aug 31 2020
Penzler Publishers | Scarlet
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Description
In this debut psychological thriller, two women on opposite sides of the law delve into the heart of a years-old crime in order to stop a future one.
Claire Fontaine is convinced that her ex-husband killed their teenage daughter all those years back and believes he’s capable of killing again. When she sees him move in with another woman, to play step-father for a girl the same age as the one she lost, Claire tries desperately to warn the new bride of the danger her family is in. But when the woman dismisses her admonishments, she feels she must take matters into her own hands and stop the crime she failed to stop before.
Sloane Wilson left the LAPD to work as a “sin eater,” a contractor for hire who specializes in cleaning up inconvenient situations—situations which, for whatever reason, are better handled outside the law. Like, for example, an ex-wife who stalks her former husband, throws paint on his door, and makes vague, violent threats to his new wife. A domestic dispute like that can get messy when the cops are called; plus, there is a risk that their presence will aggravate the woman in question.
As Sloane investigates her newest mission, however, she finds that there is more to it than meets the eye, uncovering a history of trauma that casts aspersions on the stories of both Claire and Sloane’s client. In a case where objective truth is increasingly muddled by passions, suspicions, and fears, she soon loses the ability to distinguish fact from fiction. But Sloane knows one thing for certain: sometimes the only way to prevent a crime is by committing one.
About the Author:
Stéphanie Buelens was born in Belgium and educated in France. She has traveled to more than thirty countries. For the last twenty years, she has lived between Paris and Los Angeles. She has worked as an actress, interpreter, translator, business consultant, French media coach, and language instructor. She currently lives in Belgium.
A Note From the Publisher
LibraryReads votes due by 8/1/20.
Advance Praise
“A dark and riveting thriller with unexpected twists at every turn. I loved the two women at the heart of the story.” - Camilla Lackberg, internationally bestselling author of The Golden Cage
“An Inconvenient Woman is beautifully, beautifully written and suspenseful from the chilling opening until the end.” - James Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Absolutely stunning! A brilliant concept meets perfect execution in An Inconvenient Woman, a twisting thriller in which a looming tragedy and a horrific crime from the past are masterfully woven together. It's hard to believe that this is Buelens's first novel; I truly hope more are in the future—preferably the near future.” - Jeffery Deaver, New York Times bestselling author of The Never Game and The Bone Collector.
“Old problems told by conflicting voices. A new, sharp view of psychological reality. Sin Eater! What a fascinating concept. I could not put it down!” - Anne Perry, New York Times bestselling author of 'Death in Focus'
“Addictive, immersive, unputdownable. The powerful women at the beating heart of this beautifully-wrought thriller—women with grudges and looking for a certain brand of justice—give the old school noir vibe a thoroughly modern energy. As deep and human as it is rocket-paced, An Inconvenient Woman is a slick, accomplished debut.” - Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of The Stranger Inside
“By turns lyrical and enraged, but always poignant, An Inconvenient Woman provides relentless thrills. Buelens will inevitably invite comparisons to Liane Moriarty and Gillian Flynn—a taut, gripping noir mystery that is as timely as it is ferocious.” - Lyndsay Faye, award-winning author of The Paragon Hotel
Available Editions
| EDITION | Hardcover |
| ISBN | 9781613161906 |
| PRICE | $25.95 (USD) |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Amber V, Reviewer
In this novel we follow two women. One is named Claire and the other is Sloane. The way the novel is structured is done well and everything is well paced. I found myself so invested in this novel and wanting to find out what happens to these two women and the storyline we are following. The twists and reveals were well done and the characterization was done well. I was hooked from the very beginning!
Rachel M, Librarian
Wow, this book does not disappoint. Readers are introduced to a compelling, unputdownable mystery with an unexpected conclusion. Think Shirley Jackson in present day. Readers, as well as protagonists, will question the legitimacy of threats and the sanity of characters. Specifically, Claire's POV is such a spinning and obsessive swirl of intrusive thoughts it seems completely unreliable. Yet, it is such a real depiction of PTSD, grief, and victimization.
Told from the prospective of two protagonists, this novel tells the story of Claire, who has accused her ex-husband of molesting her now deceased daughter, and Sloan, a sin-eater. Intriguing occupation? I thought so. As a sin-eater, Sloan uses skills acquired as a cop to help make problems go away for those balancing on the edge of the law. When Claire's ex-husband hires Sloan to quiet accusations that could ruin his life, both women are drawn into an intense journey of discovery.
Can't wait to read from this publisher and author!
Kathy W, Librarian
Thanks to W. W. Norton & Company I received and Advance Reading Copy of An Inconvenient Woman by Stéphanie Buelens. This is her debut novel and the first book from Scarlet. Fans of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and Harlan Coben will love the twists and turns of An Inconvenient Woman.
Claire Fontaine receives an call from her ex-husband, Simon Miller. Simon is getting remarried and will gain a young stepdaughter as well but Claire will do everything to stop that from happening. Claire feels guilt for not protecting her own daughter and now has to live with those consequences. Claire is at her wit’s end because no one believes her.
To protect Charlotte and her daughter, Emma, Simon hires Sloan Wilson, a “sin eater” to stop Claire. Simon is convinced Claire is having a breakdown and shares this with Sloan who is good at “persuading” people.
Claire and Sloan narrate the story and each has her own baggage from the past that colors their present. One of them has an accurate view of the past and her father while the other one has lived her whole life with the wrong perception of reality. The question becomes who is right and who is deluded? How far will she be driven to prove she’s right?
Enjoy this psychological suspense debut from Stéphanie Buelens, it is a page turner. Best of all is the twists and turns make sense and are plausible which is not always true with psychological suspense novels.
Librarian 587720
This story takes you in and gradually increases plot speed until you are helpless to do anything but finish it. It allows you to completely escape from thoughts of the pandemic. The writing is very, very good. It goes quickly and you will be sorry when it ends.
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