Editorial Content for Twenty Years Later
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Reviewer (text)
It's time for more people to find out about USA Today and internationally bestselling author Charlie Donlea. He has been penning solid mystery/thrillers for years but continues to fly way under the radar. Hopefully that will change after readers sink their teeth into TWENTY YEARS LATER, which is probably the most complex and morally satisfying novel that Donlea has written thus far. Here, he deftly utilizes 9/11 to pinpoint a moment in time that is necessary to the plot while not in any way using the tragedy to manipulate the feelings of readers.
The irony of the novel centers on a brutal murder that takes place in the Catskill Mountains area of upstate New York involving former bestselling thriller author Cameron Young. His naked body is found hanging from the rear deck of his home. Upon further inspection, the police find blood samples belonging to another party. As they dig deeper, they uncover a seriously brazen S&M sex tape featuring Cameron and Victoria Ford, who was not his wife. It is later determined that it was Victoria’s blood at the crime scene.
"Donlea subtly moves away from the 9/11 tragedy and makes his story more about the present-day characters as they battle to find the truth through a sea of lies and false accusations."
As she realizes that she is about to be indicted for murder, Victoria heads off to meet with her attorney. Regrettably, his office is in the North Tower of the World Trade Center, and her appointment is on September 11, 2001. On that fateful morning, she feels a slight shudder and then hears glass smashing. Unfortunately, she will not make it out alive, and her remains will be one of the thousands of unrecovered victims.
Now, 20 years later, two things happen that will catch the eye of Avery Mason, the host of “American Events.” It could not come at a better time as Avery and her intimidating hulk of an agent are in the midst of contract negotiations. First, the bones uncovered at the site of the World Trade Center turn out to be Victoria’s. Her sister, Emma Kind, has been waiting with great patience to share something that will help clear her name. The second item is a phone call that Victoria made to Emma just moments before she perished in which she urges her to continue to fight on her behalf as she did not murder Cameron.
Avery meets with Emma, and they become fast friends. Emma turns over both the cassette tape and answering machine containing Victoria’s final message. Avery wants to make it not so much about the incredible strides we have made scientifically with identifying murder victims from decades earlier, but more so about the Cameron Young murder case that got brushed under the carpet purely due to its unfortunate proximity in time to the events of 9/11.
With all of her extraordinary research skills being put to the test, Avery dives deep into the case to seek justice for Cameron and possibly vindicate Victoria. This includes speaking with as many members of law enforcement as she can who were involved in the original investigation. Retired FBI agent Walt Jenkins strongly states that every piece of evidence unequivocally points to Victoria as the killer.
Avery will not give in that easily. Like a bulldog with a bone, she holds on tight and continues to zero in on Victoria’s life and her possible role in the murder. But she never anticipated that someone else might do a deep dive into her own background --- a background that holds a secret that could rock her world and completely discredit her.
The latter third of TWENTY YEARS LATER focuses on Avery's issues, which is what makes the novel so brilliant. Donlea subtly moves away from the 9/11 tragedy and makes his story more about the present-day characters as they battle to find the truth through a sea of lies and false accusations.
Teaser
Avery Mason, host of "American Events," knows the subjects that grab a TV audience’s attention. Her latest story --- a murder mystery laced with kinky sex, tragedy and betrayal --- is guaranteed to be ratings gold. New DNA technology has allowed the New York medical examiner’s office to make its first successful identification of a 9/11 victim in years. The twist: the victim, Victoria Ford, had been accused of the gruesome murder of her married lover. In a chilling last phone call to her sister, Victoria begged her to prove her innocence. Emma Kind has waited 20 years to put her sister to rest, but closure won’t be complete until she can clear Victoria’s name. Alone she’s had no luck, but she’s convinced that Avery’s connections and fame will help. But the twisted puzzle of Victoria’s private life is just the beginning.
Promo
Avery Mason, host of "American Events," knows the subjects that grab a TV audience’s attention. Her latest story --- a murder mystery laced with kinky sex, tragedy and betrayal --- is guaranteed to be ratings gold. New DNA technology has allowed the New York medical examiner’s office to make its first successful identification of a 9/11 victim in years. The twist: the victim, Victoria Ford, had been accused of the gruesome murder of her married lover. In a chilling last phone call to her sister, Victoria begged her to prove her innocence. Emma Kind has waited 20 years to put her sister to rest, but closure won’t be complete until she can clear Victoria’s name. Alone she’s had no luck, but she’s convinced that Avery’s connections and fame will help. But the twisted puzzle of Victoria’s private life is just the beginning.
About the Book
Fans of VERITY by Colleen Hoover won’t want to miss this thrilling suspense novel from the #1 internationally bestselling author of THE GIRL WHO WAS TAKEN! Hiding her own dark past in plain sight, a TV reporter is determined to uncover the truth behind a gruesome murder decades after the investigation was abandoned. But TWENTY YEARS LATER, to understand the present, you need to listen to the past.
Avery Mason, host of "American Events," knows the subjects that grab a TV audience’s attention. Her latest story --- a murder mystery laced with kinky sex, tragedy and betrayal --- is guaranteed to be ratings gold. New DNA technology has allowed the New York medical examiner’s office to make its first successful identification of a 9/11 victim in years. The twist: the victim, Victoria Ford, had been accused of the gruesome murder of her married lover. In a chilling last phone call to her sister, Victoria begged her to prove her innocence.
Emma Kind has waited 20 years to put her sister to rest, but closure won’t be complete until she can clear Victoria’s name. Alone she’s had no luck, but she’s convinced that Avery’s connections and fame will help. Avery, hoping to negotiate a more lucrative network contract, goes into investigative overdrive. Victoria had been having an affair with a successful novelist, found hanging from the balcony of his Catskills mansion. The rope, the bedroom and the entire crime scene was covered in Victoria’s DNA.
But the twisted puzzle of Victoria’s private life is just the beginning. And what Avery doesn't realize is that there are other players in the game who are interested in Avery’s own secret past --- one she has kept hidden from both the network executives and her television audience. A secret she thought was dead and buried.
Audiobook available, read by Vivienne Leheny
