Blame

In this engrossing standalone from Thriller Award–winner Abbott (The First Order), a car crash in Austin, Tex., steals 17-year-old Jane Norton’s memory and kills her best friend’s boyfriend, David Hall. Investigators find Jane’s suicide note at the scene, turning sympathy for the survivor into blame. Jane can’t imagine intentionally wrecking her vehicle, let alone doing so with David as a passenger, but since she can’t remember the last three years, she’s unable to offer an alternative explanation. Two years later, when “Liv Danger” posts a message online claiming to know what really happened that night and pledging vengeance, the guilt-ridden Jane assumes it’s a cruel joke—until someone starts targeting those connected with the crash. The closer Jane comes to unlocking her memories and unmasking Liv Danger, the more certain she becomes that everyone in her life is conspiring to rewrite history and hide the truth. One soapy and superfluous subplot aside, this is an emotionally complex tale replete with finely drawn characters, shocking twists, and convincing red herrings. Agent: Peter Ginsberg, Curtis Brown. (July)