One Small Sacrifice by Hilary Davidson

Thomas & Moore, 2019

ISBN-13: 978-1542042116

Available: Hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, audiobook, audio CD

I will preface this by saying that although this was sent to us for review, it is not a horror novel, but if you enjoy a suspenseful thrill ride, this is a great choice, so read on to see if it’s for you.

Alex Traynor, a war photographer with a strong case of PTSD and a past of drug addiction, comes home one night to discover a note from his fiancee, Emily Teare, that she is leaving him, and not to look for her. Sheryn Sterling is a cop obsessed with finding evidence to tie Alex to what she believes is the murder of Cori Stanton, who either jumped or fell from the roof of Alex’s apartment building. Alex, in a drug-induced stupor at the time, claims not to remember the events of that night, but Sheryn is certain that Emily, who saw what happened, was lying to protect him. When one of Emily’s coworkers calls to report her as missing, Sheryn is certain that Alex has finally decided to get rid of the only witness to Cori’s murder.

The story is written from multiple points of view: Alex’s, Emily’s, the building superintendent’s, and Sheryn’s. Alex’s memories and perceptions are unreliable, due to his previous history with drugs and his PTSD blackouts (and it also becomes clear that Emily was hiding things from him); the building superintendent is hiding something from the police; Sheryn’s background and investment in taking Alex down color her view of events; and Emily’s disorientation and isolation makes it impossible to figure out where she is or what’s actually happening, and why.  Her scenes, though brief, are chilling.

So much of the story is buried or left to guesswork that there is room for a lot more development here. Sheryn has a family, adding dimension and balance to her character, and there’s a lot there to work with as the reader encounters her interactions with both her past and current partners and her own self-reflection. Alex and Emily are grappling with issues that are currently relevant to today’s world, such as PTSD, war, the refugee crisis in the Middle East, the opiate issue in this country, and the true meaning of family. It does bother me that the ending is so pat. Real life is not a puzzle that can be resolved so easily. This is really a police procedural and thriller, not horror, but it’s definitely an easy read, and a compelling one.  At 350 pages, the plot moves along quickly, but I think it’s at the expense of deeper character development. What the reader values more is, of course, up to individual taste. I do hope this is the first in a series and that we get to see Sheryn’s character developed further, but for readers who enjoy police procedurals, One Small Sacrifice is a great way to spend a lazy summer day.  Recommended.

Contains: violence