Twists and turns. Multiple flashbacks for multiple characters. Organized crime. Archaeology. Dysfunctional families. Assumed identities. Mystery. Terrorism. Love. Hate. Fear. Death. What’s not to love about THE GIRL AT THE BORDER?

Leslie Archer (the nom de plume of a New York Times bestselling author) has written a smart, absorbing mystery that starts on an archaeological dig with Angela Chase meeting Richard Mathis, a real-life Indiana Jones in the world of antiquity finds. Richard’s arrival in Crete sets the stage for the discovery of not only a rare Etruscan figure, and possibly the unraveling of a centuries-old enigma regarding what ever became of the race, but also a domino of flashbacks that reveal the backstories of Angela and Richard.

"The expression 'page-turner' was coined to describe exactly what Archer offers in THE GIRL AT THE BORDER --- rapid-fire flashbacks and revelations about all the characters that drive the story forward with great momentum."

The reader learns in an early recollection that the seemingly pulled-together and bright Angela comes from a very troubled and storied background. She entered the world as Laurel Springfield, a quickly orphaned child who spent her youth reading all that she could get her hands on, while struggling to survive a lonely existence. She becomes embroiled in a large, loving but questionable Italian family, and must escape that life to reenter as Angela.

Richard has left behind a broken marriage to a tragic woman dependent on chemicals to keep her going. Together they have a child, affectionately nicknamed “Rabbit,” who is being raised by a nanny not much older than she is. Richard spends more time working than with his daughter, and acutely feels the guilt of that.

When the phone rings one day to alert Richard that his Bella has gone missing, he leaves Angela behind to find her. The book jacket reveals that Richard is dead within two days. Angela, who has lost her good friend and confidante, decides to find Bella for him.

The expression “page-turner” was coined to describe exactly what Archer offers in THE GIRL AT THE BORDER --- rapid-fire flashbacks and revelations about all the characters that drive the story forward with great momentum.