October 1, 2013
Octavia returns to Atlanta and the characters in His First Wife (2008). The opening scene, in which Mayor Jamison falls to his death from a hotel rooftop, is only the first of many surprising revelations. Octavia flashes back to what led to this crisis, covering Jamison's quick marriage to former assistant Val after her pregnancy is confirmed. When his college friend, Ras, is framed for drugs, Jamison senses a conspiracy. Jamison is also squeezed by a former girlfriend in L.A. who had his child. A growing numbers of enemies and their threats drive him to the top of the hotel. Now, after his death, his ex-wife, Kerry, is raising their son while fending off his evil mother. Val also encounters the dark side of Jamison's mother and goes to Kerry's shelter for women for help. What happens next and the person blamed will have readers anxious for the next book. Octavia skillfully adds dimension and hidden aspects to her characters while offering surprises aplenty in this highly charged tale of romantic suspense.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)