ETERNAL BEAUTY

Fontainne and Emmes’ psychological thriller follows the intertwined, traumatic lives of two women and a girl.

Bridget Higgins is only 7 when she loses her mother and her stepfather in an explosive fire at an Arkansas law firm. Thirtysomething Claire Foster’s parents died in the same fire, which she survived, although her memory of the night is foggy, and her suspicious cop boyfriend is certain that she’s faking her amnesia to hide her culpability. Sometime later, Claire has a fateful run-in with successful wellness media influencer Barbara O’Malley, just after the latter killed a man who was stalking her. As a result, the pair shares a dark secret. Tech-savvy Claire becomes Barbara’s assistant; it’s a “job of a lifetime,” but Claire’s growing envy of her wealthy, glamorous boss eventually sullies it. As the years pass, Bridget aspires to be a brand influencer, which she hopes to jump-start by sharing her original horror stories online. She idolizes Barbara, whom she one day gets the chance to meet—although not in a way that readers will anticipate. Fontainne and Emmes’ narrative features a good deal of murky backstory, including the largely mysterious fire. Nevertheless, the novel’s engaging character development, which builds over more than a decade, makes the wait for big reveals worthwhile. The three main characters, who alternate first-person narration, are all fascinating in their own ways, and more than one of them dabbles in blackmail. The story opens on a somber note and somehow gets gloomier as it goes along, with character-centric chapters highlighting a variety of pitfalls, including resentment, vanity, and a craving for fame. The authors maintain a steady pace until the sensational final act, which is drawn out to great effect and closes the novel with a satisfying punch.

A grim, compelling fusion of an eventful mystery and an unorthodox coming-of-age story.