Bad Things

Bush’s romantic thriller centered on a reunion gone wrong is disappointingly bland. A reunion of high school friends ends as such events often do: in a drunken haze. When party girl Diana Conger wakes, she’s shocked once to find former high school heartthrob Nick Radnor in her bed, and again when she sees that he’s dead. While the rest of the gang—a parade of stick-figure clichés—are quick to place blame on Diana when the autopsy of Nick reveals a heroin overdose, Nick’s stepsister, Kerry, and their former classmate, police officer Cole Sheffield, set out to uncover the truth, revealing a series of events that beg the platitude of learning who your real friends are. In the background of the suspense plot, Kerry and Cole develop a thin romantic link. Though Bush provides consistent tone, the massive cast, complicated relationships, and even more complicated personal conflicts create a soap opera feel rather than suspense. The story moves quickly, but the payoff is buried under inconsequential details, and forced character drama makes the happy ending feel hollow . Neither romance readers nor suspense fans will get much out of this. Agent: Robin Rue, Writers House. (July)