On the surface, high school math teacher Eve Bennett is the envy of women everywhere. She has a career she loves, a beautiful home, and a gorgeous, kind, and mild-mannered husband, Nate, who teaches English at her school. However, with a growing emotional distance and a lack of affection from Nate, Eve feels unfulfilled. Even adding to the designer shoe collection she attempts to hide from her husband doesn't help her dissatisfaction. When the school year begins and troubled teen Addie Severson is in both Nate's and Eve's classes, the tension between the couple intensifies. Addie had been in the middle of a scandal that ruined the career of a beloved teacher. While Nate insists she deserves a second chance, Eve feels Addie can't be trusted. Although rumors about the scandal circulate wildly, nobody knows what really happened, and vulnerable Addie is determined to keep it that way. In fact, she might do just anything to keep things quiet. VERDICT Told from the alternating viewpoints of Eve and Addie, this dark page-turner from McFadden ("The Housemaid" series) has an unexpected, brilliantly executed twist at the end. It's a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.—Lucinda Ward

At the start of the superb latest from McFadden (The Coworker), frumpy math teacher Eve Bennett is preparing for a new year at Caseham High School with her handsome husband and fellow teacher, Nate. Eve is dismayed to learn that Addie Severson, a student who allegedly had an affair with math teacher Art Tuttle (who's since resigned) last year, has been assigned to one of her classes. While Addie insists nothing inappropriate happened with Tuttle, her classmates bully her about the rumors, and the school's staff remain split on whether to believe her. As the school year progresses, Addie finds refuge from the constant scrutiny in Nate's class, developing a bond with him over their mutual love of poetry. One night, after hosting a dinner party, Eve catches Addie lurking in the bushes near her and Nate's home. Nate's passive response to the discovery irks Eve and leads her to suspect his relationship with Addie might be edging into illicit territory. As Eve investigates, McFadden rolls out a series of jaw-dropping twists that recast the power dynamic between her central trio over and over again. The frequent rug-pulling will thrill readers who've initially pinned the story as run-of-the-mill domestic suspense. This rivets. Agent: Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Feb.)