The Second Key

In Holdefer's novel, Rachel Matthews, a single mother of twins, is still mourning the death of husband Patrick and finds dating difficult. When she meets her old high school friend and prom date Michael vacationing at Lake Placid, they charge into an affair. But when she sees him kissing another woman, Rachel returns home to discover a key in Patrick's study that leads to a safety deposit box%E2%80%94and letters from his mistress. While she investigates her husband's mysterious past and grapples with heartache, Rachel works to love again. Although the author offers up a fascinating premise, her novel suffers from a lack of suspense, predictability, and an unsatisfying ending. Potentially complex plot elements (e.g., the husband's infidelity) lack tension, and, in the end, readers will have difficulty investing in the characters and their story.