The Life I Left Behind

The Life I Left Behind by Colette McBeth

On the heels of her first successful novel,  Precious Thing, author Colette McBeth, writes another thriller guaranteed to keep you on the edge.

Follow along.......

Melody Pieterson came so close to death six years ago. Her limp, discolored body was found discarded in a local park. In her hand, she was clutching a delicate caged bird on a gold chain. She has no recollection of the attack. Melody survived, but now lives a secluded life removed from society with her overly attentive fiance. Even though her neighbor, David Alden, was arrested for her attempted murder, she lives in fear, now that he has been released from prison. And she is beginning to have nagging doubts about that day as her memory returns in bits and pieces.

Eve Elliott  is a reporter from a cancelled investigative crime show. Her friend, Annie, is David's sister. Reluctantly, at Annie's request, Eve begins to look into David's story that he is innocent of  Melody's attack. Slowly, Eve begins to believe that he's telling the truth. Maybe he didn't have enough time to commit the crime, maybe he wasn't the jealous jilted neighbor like the police portrayed. Maybe someone else with a secret motive to kill Melody is still out there. Maybe David Alden is innocent.

Then Eve is murdered before she can present her suspicions to the police. The crime scene looks all too familiar. She is found clutching a delicate caged bird on a gold chain.

David Alden is arrested again, this time for Eve's murder. The news of Eve's death triggers apprehension in Melody. She comes precariously close to slipping over the edge. If David is not the predator, then who in her immediate circle is? Was Eve too close to uncovering the truth about someone who is purposefully misleading the police?

This novel is cleverly written, full of surprises and twists and turns. The chapters alternate between Melody's voice and the voice of the deceased Eve who has all the answers. She'll give you many clues from her grave but you, the reader, will have to figure it out all by yourself.