Her Prodigal Husband

Alice Einstein - known as 'Malice' to her former schoolfriends - likes to tell herself stories. There's a good one she's workshopping about how despite once being a critically acclaimed literary novelist she's ended up blocked and uninspired living in her timid conflict-averse sister Liesl's spare room. But then Liesl sends her an SOS worthy of a thriller novel. The horror! The horror! Sam is back. Sam Liesl's wealthy ex-husband vanished ten years ago leaving her a chunk of money but no explanation. Sam is handsome charming manipulative . . . and now he claims he's sick. But Alice with her experience of spinning tales knows a liar when she sees one. Haunted by a childhood tragedy that gave birth to the cruel nickname 'Lethal' Liesl now specialises in saving things: dogs children sisters. Telling herself it's time she returned the favor Alice engages the services of Brigid Quinn a hardboiled local private investigator with a shady past to help her get rid of Sam for good. But as the plot thickens Alice begins to wonder if she knows anyone involved - most of all herself - quite as well as she thinks . . .