Hush

When Coby Rendell was 17, a drunken campfire party full of secrets and lies ended with the mysterious death of classmate Lucas Moore. Twelve years later, Coby reluctantly reunites with the old gang at a birthday party. Det. Danner Lockwood, her ex-boyfriend, is the last person she expects to see, but he has realized what he lost and wants another chance. Their reunion is interrupted by another death, and the investigation leads Coby into danger as she uncovers the ugly things her friends have been hiding. Bush (Wicked Lies) provides solid writing and characters, but the huge cast, complicated intertwined relationships, and constant drama give a soap opera feel that's light on menace. The romance has a big buildup, but the payoff is small and nearly buried by the mystery, and the lack of tension and the characters' miserable lives result in a pervasive sadness instead of a happy ending. (July)