A drifter who goes by the name Pru inserts herself into the life of a wealthy but aimless man in Santos’s ominous debut romance. Pru sees Carney, the homely son of a former Hollywood heartthrob, as a potential source of comfort and security, and hides much of her background from him in order to maintain a mysterious facade. That mystery is shattered when a motorcycle accident that Carney walks away from without a scratch leaves Pru with a shattered leg and no way to hide the fact that she’s alone and destitute. Entranced with the idea of being her savior, Carney swoops in to take care of Pru and pay for her medical treatment, setting off a rocky melodrama of obsession and distrust.

Although the book is categorized as “romance,” the combination of unreliable narration, vague motives, bad behavior, and the possible lack of genuine affection between the hero and heroine more suit a hardboiled psychological thriller. Carney sums up the distinctive dynamics when he informs Pru “We’re not normal.” As the two orbit each other, readers will be left to wonder whether the romantic feelings are genuine or just a cover each maintains to get their needs met, an unsettling noir convention. The relationship escalates quickly but unnaturally, as both's motives are mysterious, and the chemistry proves more volatile than steamy. Even the couple’s eventual declarations of love feel potentially manipulative rather than genuine.

The stakes are raised when Carney’s need to be Pru’s champion drives him to dangerously confront her past, compounding their already unorthodox relationship. Finally, a twist involving the hero’s history might leave readers wondering if the couple’s metaphorical ride into the sunset is more of a horrific kidnapping, a noir touch. Readers seeking a conventional love story will want to look elsewhere, but lovers of dark, suspenseful couplings may find the danger and uncertainty enticing.

Takeaway: This somewhat chilling not-quite-a-romance will satisfy readers looking for a mystery with a side of sexuality.

Great for fans of: Kaira Rouda’s Best Day Ever, James M. Cain’s The Postman Always Rings Twice.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B+