The scent of lilacs, poetry, and classical music bring Marla and Adam together after Marla's high school boyfriend is convicted of murder and disappears from her life. The charming, brilliant Adam promises Marla a life of culture, luxury, and family devotion. Having grown up in a small town in the shadow of a narcissistic mother, Marla is swept off her feet.
But after twelve years of marriage, Marla has learned that Adam's version of love is controlling, manipulative, and even violent at times. When a key in Adam's closet unlocks troubling secrets, Marla must come to grips with the dark truth that has been just under the surface all Adam is not the man she thought she'd married.
With the help of friends, family, and a newfound resilience, Marla fights to uncover every strand in the web of deceit and crime that Adam has woven through the past and present. Only then can she exhale.
You know how sometimes you think you know where a story is headed? Well, I had an inkling, but boy I didn't see the intricately woven and sometimes surprising path that I would traverse to get there! This story is edgy - and makes you root for characters and wonder about others. It's compelling - a real page turner. Not my normal genre, but I highly recommend this debut novel!
I was captivated with the story from the beginning to the end. It kept me guessing as to how all the pieces and players would evolve. The book is well researched and written, the author has crafted “an edge of your seat” mystery thriller that keeps you intrigued and interested till the end.
The Scent of Lilacs tackles the challenging subject of domestic abuse with thoughtful research and compassion. You'll stay up late into the night to discover the twisted journey of these complex characters. A riveting debut!
Excellent read. Believable characters and suspenseful right to the last page. Terrific insights into the lives of people living with domestic violence. I recommend it to anyone.