The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave

If you read the 2021 bestselling thriller The Last Thing He Told Me, this sequel is a sure bet. A thriller/beach read that you can’t put down, it is sweet, tender, tense, anxious, and full of plot twists with an intensifying pace. Don’t start this at bedtime or you won’t get much sleep!

Hannah and stepdaughter Bailey are a team, along with Bailey’s grandfather Nicholas, who has not always done the right thing. Owen, Bailey’s dad, disappeared several years ago, to keep them safe. Hannah and Bailey go on a journey together, sudden but not unexpected. They learn that Bailey’s grandfather has died, and they are no longer safe. Going back and forth in time, we learn that Nicholas and Owen worked together to make contingency plans to protect Bailey. While this is a plot-driven novel, the settings really enhance the story, moving from the California coast to Miami, Hawaii, Paris, and the south of France. Love and loyalty are key here, along with figuring out who is trustworthy and when it’s time to move on. The love of family, the emotions of missing loved ones, and very appealing main characters make this memorable read well worth the thrill ride.   

Brenda