Publisher: Press Americana

Publication Date: May 18, 2026

Length: 447 pages

I received this book for review from the author.

Tom Corbin, a charming and celebrated poet, is murdered. The people he leaves behind grapple with this untimely death. His best friend Paul, wife Susan, son Jack, and mistress Rachel each come to terms with Tom’s death throughout the emotional gripping aftermath.

At the center of the story is Tom’s friend Paul Bishop. Paul was one of the last people to see Tom alive, and he worries that perhaps there was something he could have said or done that would have changed Tom’s life. This is just one aspect of the large burden of guilt that Paul carries. He is determined to help Tom’s wife and child navigate their grief as a way to assuage his guilt.

Tom’s wife Susan finds herself facing the unexpected death of her spouse with no backing from family. She must also guide her son through the loss of his father. Friends step in to help her but the issues she faces are far more than her husband’s death. She is adrift and clings to the lifeline of help that Paul offers to see her through this unthinkable time.

Rachel met Tom and Paul in college. She began a relationship with Paul that ended badly. Years later, she and Tom reconnected at a poetry reading and began seeing each other although Tom was married. She resents the happiness that Tom has found with Susan but can’t envision such a future for herself.

As these three people are drawn together over Tom’s death, they discover that their lives are more interconnected than previously imagined. Grief, loss, betrayal, and guilt drive the story. Each of these people carry secrets and the revelation of them will lead to even more turmoil. These complex relationships are what make this novel so evocative. The fictional lives in this story are every bit as messy as everyday life.

John Burt’s story is an unflinching testimony to friendship through the good and bad. Strong characters and intricate emotional behavior make this debut a standout. This is a serious story that will attract readers who look for complex human relationships.

My Rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻/5