Best known for her breakout hit, ROSES, Leila Meacham only began writing in retirement, which may surprise her scores of fans. Her dip into the publishing industry was no flash in the pan. Sadly, Meacham passed away before she could publish what would be her final book, APRIL STORM. Now, thanks to the steadfast work of her husband of 55 years, it is now available to readers.

Drew and Kathryn Walker would define their marriage as “unbreakable.” With Drew the unwanted third son of “trailer trash” and Kathryn horrifically orphaned by the age of six, it took a long time for either of them to feel safe enough to put their trust in one another. But now that they have, they hold that trust as bond. Given their unfavorable beginnings, their current status is remarkable. Drew is the chief of orthopedics at their local hospital, and is highly sought after by professional sports teams and celebrities. Kathryn is a former scientist turned stay-at-home mom who has presided over numerous PTA and HOA meetings, in addition to holding several volunteer positions.

Because they started from nothing, Drew and Kathryn take great pride in their assets, most notably their gorgeous, sprawling home in Avon, Colorado, nestled in the foothills of ritzy Beaver Creek Resort. Now that they’ve seen their children --- teacher Bobby and soon-to-be college grad Lindsay --- through adulthood, they’re ready to focus on themselves. But the month of April has never come easily for them. So far, April 2010 is not looking promising.

"APRIL STORM is a thrilling, page-turning release that will appeal to both mystery fans and lovers of all things Leila Meacham. If there is a downside to this riveting novel, it is only that it reminds readers of just how much they have lost with her passing."

The Walkers’ “April storms” began with the death of their first child, the victim of sudden infant death syndrome, and has continued since with illnesses, car problems and unexpected expenses. But even with a lifetime of a bad pattern, Kathryn is shocked when she realizes that she is being followed --- and has been followed for weeks --- by a mysterious stranger. She knows that stalkers are rarely taken seriously until something bad has already happened, so she is hesitant to reveal her fears to her husband.

Besides, Drew has been, ahem, distracted lately. A previous bad investment has tightened their finances significantly, which is now preventing him from buying in to a lucrative new medical facility where he could be partner. But more than that, he recently has become unusually close to a female colleague. When Kathryn phones the gym that Drew steadfastly visits three times a week, she learns that his membership was canceled six months ago. She knows that financial stress is a marriage killer, but is it also a wife killer?

Kathryn’s fears are both validated and amplified by her neighbor, Mike, who has a history in the armed forces. He has witnessed this “stalker” and believes him to be not personally interested in Kathryn, but rather hired to be interested in her --- in other words, a private investigator. But how could a stay-at-home mom whose career hopes were dashed when she failed her dissertation possibly have made any enemies in her life? As any true-crime lover knows, this leaves only her husband as a suspect, but even that isn’t quite adding up. After all, why would he hire someone to report back on the same schedule he has observed for 20-plus years of marriage?

As attempts on her life begin to pile up, Kathryn realizes that someone truly wants her gone. Joining forces with Mike, she kicks off a cat-and-mouse chase in hopes of luring her real stalker closer so that she can identify him. The journey is dangerous, but Kathryn’s skills as both a scientist and an artist keep her good at recalling details and logical in her approach. Mike, and even her husband, provide additional support, but she isn’t sure she can trust either man.

Throughout the course of Kathryn’s investigation, a new mystery is drawn to the surface: What ever happened to her dreams of a career in science, and why was she so ready to give them up? If it is indeed Drew who wants her gone, she’s not going down without a fight --- not just for her life, but for all that she has surrendered in the process.

This creatively imagined and tautly plotted mystery is sure to delight both newcomers and established fans alike. Meacham’s signature emotional intelligence is on full display as she introduces readers to her main characters: overcompensating, shame-filled Drew and logical but driftless Kathryn. Her character development with both --- from the gutter to the stars --- is deftly written, while she carefully demonstrates the ties between childhood trauma and adult repercussions without overwriting or talking down to readers.

At the same time, the mystery at the heart of the book is equally well-crafted. Twists and turns come at a speedy but not breakneck pace as Meacham gives readers a new angle, suspect or tie to consider. If some of her conclusions require a suspension of disbelief, the emotional veracity and progressive, feminist bent more than make up for it.

APRIL STORM is a thrilling, page-turning release that will appeal to both mystery fans and lovers of all things Leila Meacham. If there is a downside to this riveting novel, it is only that it reminds readers of just how much they have lost with her passing.