Ava Antipova returns home to the family vineyard in upstate New York after receiving news that her twin sister has died in a fire. After leaving home two years ago, and not speaking to her sister Zelda for that entire time, Ava's return is a bitter homecoming. Even in a family of alcoholics and eccentrics, Zelda was the wild one, notorious for her wild behavior and mind games. Knowing her sister, Ava finds the explanation of Zelda's death to be a little too neat. Her instincts become sharply obvious when Ava receives a cryptic note from Zelda and as Ava has suspected, Zelda isn't finished playing games. Working her way from A to Z, following Zelda's clues, Ava finds herself uncovering Zelda's secrets, becoming immersed in a life she ran away from two years ago. The question is, just where is Zelda, and why is she playing this game with Ava? Is it a twisted strategy of revenge or something deeper?
Filled with outrageous, frustrating (and yet fascinating and compelling) characters, this story has twists and turns that continue right to the very end. The reader discovers and uncovers secrets along with Ava, putting story in the hands of the main narrator. In the beauty of wine country, it is clear that dark things can lurk underneath the seemingly pretty surface of family and relationships. Zelda's tendrils of influence go further than Ava ever thought, and as she goes from clue to clue, it's unclear if Ava is getting closer to Zelda, or actually closer to facing her real self. This is a mesmerizing suspense story, threaded with the deep connection of two sisters whose lives are inextricably intertwined, for better and for worse. The author's vivid writing style, combined with her attention to lush detail, bring this story to life. Combined with the twists that keep you guessing, this story will linger in your mind after the final page.
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