The Date

At the start of this riveting psychological thriller from British author Jensen (The Surrogate), Alison “Ali” Taylor wakes up alone after a date with someone she met online. She has a throbbing headache, bruises on her arms, and no memory of what happened. When she looks in the mirror, she doesn’t recognize her face. Ali’s roommate, Chrissy, who went with her on the date, is missing. Ali’s brother takes her to the hospital, where Ali is diagnosed with prosopagnosia, which hampers her ability to recognize even familiar faces. The stakes rise when Ali begins receiving packages containing blood-stained articles of clothing she wore on her date. The packages are accompanied by notes accusing Ali of being a murderer. When the police learn that Chrissy is missing, Ali becomes a suspect and torments herself with the thought that she may have been responsible. Teasing allusions to a secret from Ali’s past heighten the suspense. Unexpected twists and turns keep readers turning the pages. Jensen consistently delivers the goods. Agent: Rory Scarfe, Blair Partnership (U.K.). (Aug.)