Two Little Girls

Because barrister Lizzie Fulton, the narrator of British YA author Jarratt’s riveting adult debut, and her husband, Dan, also a lawyer, have serious strains in their marriage, Lizzie takes their two daughters on a one-week vacation to a remote spot in the Scottish Borders, leaving Dan at home in Reading, England. On the drive home, Lizzie veers off the road plunging into a lake. As the car sinks, Lizzie is forced to make an excruciating decision: choosing which of her daughters to save. Both Lizzie and the surviving daughter are airlifted to a hospital, where they’re treated for hypothermia. After two days, Lizzie can’t remember how the accident happened. The police, who believe she’s lying about her memory loss, arrest her on suspicion of dangerous driving leading to the death of a child. Though the charges are dropped, Lizzie frantically tries to recall what happened. With consummate skill, Jarratt focuses on how each family member handles his or her grief in the wake of the life-changing accident. This heartfelt story grabs the reader from the very start and doesn’t let go. Psychological thrillers fans won’t want to miss this one. (May)