J.T. Ellison has been producing first-rate thrillers for nearly two decades. Her latest effort may be one of the twistiest and most surprising yet, which is saying a lot.

YOU KNOW WHY will have you questioning everything you think you know about what is actually going on here. The eye-opening revelations just keep beating you over the head until you’re uncertain about what to believe anymore. These are the kinds of psychological thrillers that I enjoy most --- the ones that involve misdirection and clever wordplay, and feature characters who appear to be accessible at first glance, only to reveal their true selves and catch you completely unaware.

"J.T. Ellison has been producing first-rate thrillers for nearly two decades. Her latest effort may be one of the twistiest and most surprising yet, which is saying a lot."

The book opens with a holiday scene, where we hear about a pregnant woman brutally killed by her husband who disappears without a trace. The victim’s sister, Eden, vows to make this right one day. The action then jumps ahead 11 years. Brooklyn Locke is preparing to head on her first European vacation with her husband, Trey, and their two children. Their trip to Italy is a first as Trey previously had been dead set against ever getting on a plane. 

Unfortunately, the vacation of their dreams will never happen for a number of reasons. Their flight gets bumped, and they are rerouted through Atlanta. It is an ironic turn as a woman claiming to work for the airlines says that she knows Trey, but she refers to him as Andrew. When Brooklyn confronts Trey about Eden, he denies having any knowledge of who she is. Not long after, he heads off to the restroom and is not seen again by his family. Brooklyn has to argue her way off the plane as she has no intention of being separated from Trey.

Brooklyn is questioned by airport security, as well as the Atlanta police department, who announce Trey’s name over the loudspeaker but to no avail. She does not know what to do and is several hours from her home with a missing husband the authorities do not seem interested in finding. She accepts an invitation to crash at Eden’s place, which comes in handy as she learns that all of her accounts and assets have been wiped out. 

Much to her surprise, Brooklyn receives a text from Trey telling her to trust no one. He also is alarmed that she and the kids are not on their way to Italy. In the interim, Brooklyn will hear a shocking story from Eden, along with her law enforcement friend, Detective Theresa Lee, who present a different account of Trey.

Remembering what Trey had texted her, Brooklyn plans to escape Atlanta with her sister, Margot. That is, until an SUV runs her over outside Eden’s house, leaving her for dead. The police believe the driver may have been Trey, but contrary clues begin to surface revealing that something else may be at play. 

It is here where the beauty of J.T. Ellison’s plotting takes over and will keep readers guessing right up until the dynamic conclusion.