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By: Alafair Burke

ISBN:   B075WSDZPJ

Publisher: Harper Collins

Novella 

Publication Date: 12/12/2017

Format: Kindle

My Rating:  5 Stars

Alafair Burke returns following Edgar-nominated The Ex, with a twisty "attention grabber" short thriller novella WAKING KYLIE – which features an excerpt from her upcoming highly anticipated novel, The Wife.

Diane Light is the deputy district attorney and had been with the office for nearly eighteen years. Currently, she is back in the courtroom in front of Judge Stone. They are here due to a little girl Kylie, who’s father biological father Kyle Chance seeks to get his daughter returned. 

The State moved to terminate parents rights ten months earlier after the police learned the parents had permitted the child to be sexually abused in exchange for drugs. She was less than two years old when this occurred.

The client claimed he was getting clean and he happened to be estranged from the wife when this occurred. She was placed with a foster mother. Kylie was not an easy child to place. She had experienced trauma. Plus she had been born drug-affected.

Undernourished and suffered from PTSD. Now the foster mother, Janice has been killed by a drunk driver. 

Diane must keep this little girl from going back to her biological father— Even if she takes her in herself. She could be an excellent mother to the little girl. She cannot allow this precious little girl to go back to this monster. Even though the courts primarily blame it on the mother. 

She had asked for a transfer out of the major-crimes until (a coveted position) to the family court. This way she could remain in Kylie's life. Who else would protect her?

Her husband, Greg had left her for another woman, who now had his own family. She formerly was fat; currently, slim. She did not have any children. She was forty-four. She could not comprehend how it could be in Kylie’s best interest to live with a man (now a janitor), who sold her a two-year-old to support his heroin habit?

If she can only get "Matt the Cat" (a disgusting street informant) to catch Kyle — dealing drugs before their next court date. He kept his ears and eyes open for information that he could trade for a get out of jail free card. 

How far will Diane so go to make sure he never sees this innocent little girl again? 

I adore novellas, and this evil twisty one was perfect to set the stage for THE WIFE. I have pre-ordered and anxiously awaiting Jan 23, 2018. (Narrated by Xe Sands)! Listen to Clip. 

THE WIFE is about a caterer (a single woman with a son), who marries her prince charming. Now a famous author and consultant he is accused of sexual harassment. One of the girls goes missing. However, the case may now bring secrets from the wife's past to light. 

I am enjoying all the upcoming new releases in the domestic suspense/thriller genre focused on the wife (secrets of marriages). With Burke, there is always a tantalizing story to be told. Can’t wait. In the meantime, visit with Kylie and get a peek at THE WIFE.

“[A] page-turner.... Classic domestic-thriller elements—the too-perfect couple, the unreliable narrator, the troubled past—are given a good workout in this satisfying round of ‘Who’s the Psycho?’”— The Wife Kirkus Reviews

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