Waiting for Wednesday

Two strangely parallel murder cases, both involving obvious suspects who are later cleared, preoccupy Frieda Klein in French’s intricate and disturbing third novel featuring the London-based psychotherapist (after 2012’s Tuesday’s Gone). Ruth Lennox, a seemingly happy wife and mother, appears to have been the victim of a simple burglary gone wrong. Inconveniently, the burglar has a solid alibi that places him elsewhere at the time of Ruth’s death. George Conley, convicted of murdering 18-year-old schoolgirl Hazel Barton, is set free when the evidence against him is shown to be egregiously flawed. The police have no leads on who actually killed Hazel. In her quest for justice, Frieda succeeds in linking the two cases, but a jealous professional rival sabotages her formal efforts to help. The high personal cost that a number of people pay as Frieda exposes their embarrassing secrets may disconcert some readers. French is the pseudonym of Sean French and Nicci Gerard, a husband-and-wife writing team. Agent: Joy Harris, Joy Harris Literary Agency. (Apr.)