SEEKING SASHA

In Frost’s novel, a woman tries to leave behind a traumatic childhood, but her many identities make it hard for her to be her true self.

Is it possible to outrun a past you’re desperately trying to leave behind? That’s the question at the crux of this tense, emotionally charged novel about identity, survival, and the lingering effects of trauma. The main character is Sasha, who uses different identities and names in an effort to outpace her troubled history. The story begins with her desperate flight over rural roads and through truck stops while holding only a crumpled ten-dollar bill and battling an intense fear of discovery. Sasha’s primary survival mechanism is reinvention—she creates a new identity, Magda, in Lashburn, a town she had previously fled but now returns to. There, she hides her authentic self behind fabricated stories, temporary work, and multiple disguises. The fragile existence she builds in Lashburn shatters when she encounters Cole Dawson, a childhood friend who remembers her as Sasha. Cole, a police officer, represents everything Sasha desires, offering her protection and the chance to reveal her true self. The reunion between Sasha and Cole is bittersweet as Sasha experiences moments of closeness (“His arms, scent, nearness…A thousand memories burst from where Sasha had been keeping them locked away”) yet remains consumed by her fear of being discovered. Flashbacks reveal Sasha’s deep connection to Cole and the past that has led her to this point. Frost delivers an effective blend of psychological tension and deep character exploration, creating an often-powerful reading experience by placing the reader inside Sasha’s broken mental state, where fear and hope fight for dominance as the narrative introduces various intriguing characters who both endanger and support Sasha as she navigates her life. The well-paced story combines intense suspense with deep emotional understanding to create a compelling character study.

A tense psychological thriller about trying to outrun the past.