NIGHT BLINDNESS

A tragic accident has far-reaching consequences for an illustrious family.

At 29, Jensen is sure she's outrun the heartache of her past. Now married to Nico, a famous sculptor, they live a bohemian life in Santa Fe. But then she’s summoned home under the worst circumstances—her beloved father, Sterling Reilly, former NFL hero, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. She’s avoided home for the past 13 years, ever since her brother Will died, and now she’s in the thick of it, with her ex-boyfriend Ryder now Sterling’s neurologist. She and Ryder share a secret that changed the course of their lives, turning him into a neurologist, turning her away from academics and Julliard to work as an artist’s model. Much of the novel is concerned with Jensen’s guilt and the half-life she’s created to combat it. Her family tries to tease her out of her shell, but the true remedy lies with Ryder and their willingness to tell the truth about Will’s death. As teens, Will, Ryder and Jensen were inseparable, though there was one caveat—Will demanded Ryder and Jensen never date. But they did secretly, and Jensen and Ryder believe a scuffle the three had when Will found out caused his death. Ryder and Jensen are still in love, but there are obstacles: Ryder’s girlfriend, Dale, Sterling’s precarious condition and Jensen’s husband. Her married life proves to be the novel’s weak spot. Though she's been with Nico for years, Jensen (who narrates) offers little insight into her disintegrating marriage or why she prefers a man she’s barely seen in 13 years to her own husband. Though Strecker builds fine portraits of the minor characters, Jensen herself never steps from the shadows, an odd failing for a novel devoted to her emotional recovery.

A family drama with some disjointed moments makes for an uneven debut.