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Unknown Contact
In November of 1989, Zack Sanderson is a seventeen-year-old senior in high school. His squad of best friends includes his girlfriend, Laura. It does not include Andrew Mullins, the kid he’s been forced into friendship with since birth because of the bond between their moms. On Friday November 10, 1989 Andrew sleeps over at Zack’s house. Andrew’s sleepovers usually involve eating pizza, playing video games and going to sleep. Not this time. This night will be an unexpected adventure that will literally include sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll, though not in that order. That same night, Zack’s house is randomly targeted in an attempted burglary. During the home-invasion-gone-wrong, Zack’s mother is murdered and Zack is attacked, concussed and hospitalized. Zack wakes up to a life that will never be the same, and this new life does not include Andrew.
Today, Zack Sanderson is a widower. He thinks he’s finally ready to begin his next chapter when two things happen simultaneously. First, he receives a text from an Unknown Contact; a mystery admirer who seeks to slowly develop a deeper relationship with Zack while safely hiding behind the anonymity of their secret texts – for now. Second, he receives a letter from a law firm representing the man convicted of killing his mother more than three decades earlier. They claim he was wrongfully convicted based on fabricated evidence and false eyewitness testimony. Zack and Andrew provided that testimony. As he’s compelled to face his past, Zack is forced to reconnect with the man he has had almost zero contact with for over thirty Andrew Mullins.
Before Zack can move on in his second act, exploring possibilities with his Unknown Contact, he must first learn the truth about that night long ago. Zack has never truly acknowledged his own actions from that night and their lingering impact on multiple lives to this day. What Zack remembers about that night, what he was told about that night and what actually happened that night seem to be vastly different things. Is it possible to remember something that didn’t actually happen? Where does the truth lie and does Zack even want to know?
Today, Zack Sanderson is a widower. He thinks he’s finally ready to begin his next chapter when two things happen simultaneously. First, he receives a text from an Unknown Contact; a mystery admirer who seeks to slowly develop a deeper relationship with Zack while safely hiding behind the anonymity of their secret texts – for now. Second, he receives a letter from a law firm representing the man convicted of killing his mother more than three decades earlier. They claim he was wrongfully convicted based on fabricated evidence and false eyewitness testimony. Zack and Andrew provided that testimony. As he’s compelled to face his past, Zack is forced to reconnect with the man he has had almost zero contact with for over thirty Andrew Mullins.
Before Zack can move on in his second act, exploring possibilities with his Unknown Contact, he must first learn the truth about that night long ago. Zack has never truly acknowledged his own actions from that night and their lingering impact on multiple lives to this day. What Zack remembers about that night, what he was told about that night and what actually happened that night seem to be vastly different things. Is it possible to remember something that didn’t actually happen? Where does the truth lie and does Zack even want to know?
470 pages, Paperback
Published January 12, 2022
6 people want to read
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January 20, 2022
Zack Sanderson is a 48 year old widower with two sons and he has suffered two great tragedies in his life: one when his wife was killed by a drunk driver, and the second when he was just seventeen years old and his mother was murdered in a home invasion witnessed by himself and his friend Andrew. He's lived with this grief for a long time.
"Don't tell me you wish you could take away my pain. That pain belongs to me. It's mine. Grief is a wound that has to heal itself. Unlike a book or a movie, grief has no preset ending. Grief has no last page and no final scene. It minds no timetable and plays by no rules."
With the support of a therapist, his sons, and a close group of friends (that doesn't include Andrew), Zack finally feels the wound has healed and he's ready to make a new start. He wasn't, however, expecting that new start to arrive in the form of a text from an unknown contact.
"I don't know if you are ready for something new. Hell, I don't know if I'm ready. And I don't want to screw up our friendship. So what do I do? How do I find out if we could be more than friends? ..."
Intrigued, Zack responds and their daily texts become a safe space for the two to share anything they are feeling. He comes to rely heavily on this mysterious admirer/friend when he receives a letter from the lawyers of the man charged with his mom's murder. They believe their client innocent and want to reopen the case. Suddenly all the horrible memories come flooding back, but memories are fallible and Zack has to dig deep to get to the truth of the events of that dreadful day even if it means reconnecting with Andrew.
Unknown Contact is an intriguing psychological thriller that hooked me from page one! There are plot twists, dual timelines, and a diverse cast of well developed characters which includes LGBTQ+ representation. At the heart of the story is the thirty year old brutal murder and the memories surrounding that day. There is also the lighter subplot of the unknown contact and the correspondence they share. It's humorous, romantic and playfully presented. Zack's interactions with family and friends is touching and heartfelt and we get to see what a great dad he is.
The author skillfully weaves the past and present plot threads and teases the reader with subtle hints about the murderer and the mysterious admirer. At one point I actually exclaimed out loud when I realized where a chain of events was leading, but the author still had more surprises in store.
I'm not one who usually highlights quotes within a book, but I found myself highlighting quite a few beautiful passages including the one mentioned earlier on grief as it struck close to home. I also enjoyed the 80's pop culture references and found myself Googling some of the song titles mentioned. I'm old enough to know most of them but a few evaded my memories. Oh, those fallible memories!
I highly recommend Unknown Contact, and I look forward to more books from this author.
Content warnings: sex, drugs, sexual assault, murder, violence
Full disclosure: I became aware of this book through a Facebook posting from the author himself. Mike and I were coworkers but I had no idea he was a talented author!
"Don't tell me you wish you could take away my pain. That pain belongs to me. It's mine. Grief is a wound that has to heal itself. Unlike a book or a movie, grief has no preset ending. Grief has no last page and no final scene. It minds no timetable and plays by no rules."
With the support of a therapist, his sons, and a close group of friends (that doesn't include Andrew), Zack finally feels the wound has healed and he's ready to make a new start. He wasn't, however, expecting that new start to arrive in the form of a text from an unknown contact.
"I don't know if you are ready for something new. Hell, I don't know if I'm ready. And I don't want to screw up our friendship. So what do I do? How do I find out if we could be more than friends? ..."
Intrigued, Zack responds and their daily texts become a safe space for the two to share anything they are feeling. He comes to rely heavily on this mysterious admirer/friend when he receives a letter from the lawyers of the man charged with his mom's murder. They believe their client innocent and want to reopen the case. Suddenly all the horrible memories come flooding back, but memories are fallible and Zack has to dig deep to get to the truth of the events of that dreadful day even if it means reconnecting with Andrew.
Unknown Contact is an intriguing psychological thriller that hooked me from page one! There are plot twists, dual timelines, and a diverse cast of well developed characters which includes LGBTQ+ representation. At the heart of the story is the thirty year old brutal murder and the memories surrounding that day. There is also the lighter subplot of the unknown contact and the correspondence they share. It's humorous, romantic and playfully presented. Zack's interactions with family and friends is touching and heartfelt and we get to see what a great dad he is.
The author skillfully weaves the past and present plot threads and teases the reader with subtle hints about the murderer and the mysterious admirer. At one point I actually exclaimed out loud when I realized where a chain of events was leading, but the author still had more surprises in store.
I'm not one who usually highlights quotes within a book, but I found myself highlighting quite a few beautiful passages including the one mentioned earlier on grief as it struck close to home. I also enjoyed the 80's pop culture references and found myself Googling some of the song titles mentioned. I'm old enough to know most of them but a few evaded my memories. Oh, those fallible memories!
I highly recommend Unknown Contact, and I look forward to more books from this author.
Content warnings: sex, drugs, sexual assault, murder, violence
Full disclosure: I became aware of this book through a Facebook posting from the author himself. Mike and I were coworkers but I had no idea he was a talented author!
Displaying 1 of 1 review