A Gingerbread House

Set in the outskirts of Glasgow, Scotland, this unsettling psychological thriller from Agatha Award winner McPherson (Strangers at the Gate) focuses on three strangers in their mid-50s—Laura, Martine, and Ivy —all lonely women who work from home with no families or close friends. Outwardly friendly Kate tricks each of them into visiting her big, dusty museum of a house, where Kate, who refers to the place as a “fairytale cottage,” and her knife-brandishing sister imprison them in the tomblike basement. Months go by, and Laura, Martine, and Ivy have no way out. Meanwhile, neighbor Tash Dodd, a bookkeeper in her father’s trucking business, discovers an ugly family secret. When Tash’s father threatens her, she seeks refuge at Kate’s house, where she winds up imprisoned with the three other women—and devises an escape plan. Some Scottish colloquialisms may confuse American readers, and extensive backstories make for a slow start, but once everyone’s lives begin to intertwine, the action picks up. Notwithstanding the uplifting ending, fans of McPherson’s lighter mysteries may want to take a pass. Agent: Lisa Moylett, CMM (U.K.). (Aug.)