Rating: 4 stars (Spotlight Review)

Shauna McAllister awoke in the hospital with no memory of the tragic car accident that left her brother Rudy uncommunicative in a wheelchair or of her life up to this point. Estranged from her father, Landon, since her mother’s death when she was a child, Shauna is being blamed for Rudy’s condition and vilified for drugs that were found in her car and apartment.

With her father’s pharmaceutical company having a banner year and Landon on track to become the next President of the United States, Shauna desperately searches for clues to her past and answers regarding the accident to clear her name.

Uncovering her “drug therapy program,” Shauna realizes it’s the pills that are making her forget, as well as giving her a special ability – she can steal memories from others with a touch or a kiss. Combining detective work with her gift, Shauna slowly begins to piece the past together and quickly learns that people aren’t who she thought and she can trust no one. As Shauna gets closer to the truth, she uncovers a dark secret that can not only ruin her father, but can also get her and those she loves killed.

This was my first experience with Ted Dekker. Although he is a well-known Christian writer, he and Erin Healy did a great job of blending everything together nicely; nothing seemed forced or contrived. Very well written, the story was tightly constructed. The mystery and suspense flowed with enough twists and turns to keep things interesting and the pages turning. I am very much looking forward to Dekker’s upcoming novel, BoneMan’s Daughters.
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Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 6, 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-1595544704