The Night We Burned

Fact-checker and copyeditor Dora Rodriguez, the protagonist of this strong thriller from Kosa (The Quiet Girl), works in Seattle, Wash., for an online news magazine. An expert at uncovering the truth, Dora hides the facts of her own identity and believes that lying about her past is the only way to protect herself against criminal prosecution for her role in the massive fire that destroyed a cult 20 years ago. But when that past finally catches up with her in the form of a news story she’s asked to edit about a murder that she knows must be linked to the cult, Dora must make sure that no one else can uncover the truth—no matter how deeply they dig. Dora’s desperate attempts to hold together a disintegrating web of deception alternate with flashbacks that detail the sexual jealousy and manipulation in the cult she fled as a young woman. The flashbacks somewhat slow down the present-day narrative, but the story’s explosive conclusion provides a neat twist that compensates. Suspense fans will look forward to Kosa’s next. Agent: Victoria Marini, Irene Goodman Literary. (Aug.)