Best-selling novelist Octavia Frost learns of her rock star son Milo’s arrest for the murder of his girlfriend on the Times Square news crawl. A family tragedy has driven them apart but Octavia rushes to California with the hope of exonerating Milo. Surprising information is revealed as she delves into events surrounding the murder and gets reacquainted with Milo and his circle.

Parkhurst gives a unique twist to the story by including excerpts from Octavia’s recently completed experimental work in which she has rewritten the endings to her novels. Excerpts from Octavia’s new work help drive the plot and reveal the emotions behind her personal and professional struggles.

This novel illustrates the ways family life can both damage and heal us, and the nuances of the mother-son relationship are beautifully explored.

Marsha