I feel the most sympathy for Regina. Her family was taken from her all at once, and yet, I think that’s what she needed. Now she can stop worrying about being a Douglas and just be herself. I’ve only spoken to her once since the arrests, after Laura’s body was found. Until then, she was still in denial about Cooper’s involvement, but she couldn’t explain away a body or multiple skull fractures or Roman’s corroboration. I don’t think she’s completely forgiven me for turning on her brothers, but she’s slowly coming to terms with her family’s sins. Their faults turned out to be so much worse than she’d wanted to admit. Bailey and I keep in touch; she too is hoping for Regina’s forgiveness. It’s a long road ahead for all of us.
“How’ve you been?” I ask. Helena has given me updates over the phone. I know she’s started working with a therapist and attending AA meetings, which is a step in the right direction, but it’s better to see how a person is actually coping in person.
“I’m doing better. I still miss her, but at least now I have clarity.” She smiles. “Today has been really nice, hearing the impact she had on people during her short life. It’s important to know she still matters.”
The desperation and bitterness Helena once exhibited has lifted. Nothing will bring Laura back, but I’d like to think the old Helena is emerging, piece by piece.
“I’ll be in town for a few days,” I say. “We should get dinner.”
“I’d like that.” She stands, smoothing the wrinkles in her dress. “My church is hosting a luncheon following the wake. That’s where I’m headed. Would you like to come?”
“I think I’ll stay.” I smile. I’ve had my share of feeling like an outsider. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the beach.”
Helena doesn’t push the subject, but she initiates another hug. This time when she pulls me in, my emotions buckle. She feels me shaking and squeezes tighter.
“Thank you, Madison. I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me,” she whispers.
I watch her walk away. I think about all the pain she’s been through, the pain Cooper caused, and my conflicted emotions in loving him. Bits of those affectionate feelings remain, but I realize now I only loved parts of Cooper Douglas. I didn’t have a full understanding of him until the end. Sadly, I don’t think he ever understood himself. He was caught between who his family wanted him to be and what the people in his hometown labeled him. The end result was a person who couldn’t handle his own emotions, couldn’t live in a world beyond his control. At least I was able to bring Helena a small amount of closure, which almost makes my lonely weeks in Whisper Falls, and the heartache that followed, worthwhile.
The breeze picks up, bringing the smell of the sea closer. All around me I hear joyful laughter and gulls calling and the ocean’s thundering waves.
I don’t know who I am after all this. I don’t think I’m a full person anymore—maybe I never was. Instead, I’m all these fragments of a person. A journalist who made a mistake. A woman who fought for others. A lover who made a choice. Most people would say this is where I start over, but I think I’m in the hard middle of my journey.
I just have to keep going.
If you were hooked by the twists in The One Before, you’ll absolutely love What I Know, a gripping thriller packed with suspense!
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What I Know
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My brother was thirteen the first time he tried to kill me.
These days, Della is a loving wife, a dedicated teacher, a woman trying to do her best. She has put her past far behind her. But she hasn’t forgotten the lessons she learned.
It’s just a regular morning when Della welcomes Zoey to her English class. She treats her like any other new student: assigns her a desk, hands out the work. But then she meets Zoey’s cold, calculating eyes and freezes as terrifying memories threaten to overwhelm her.
Della knows what evil looks like when it hides behind a confident smile. Her own brother, the town’s darling, couldn’t keep his true nature hidden for ever. Della has been watching out for people like him ever since, determined to stop them before it’s too late.
When a student is viciously attacked and Della is sent a detailed account of the crime, she’s more convinced than ever that Zoey has darkness inside her.
But to make people believe her, she needs proof. Will she risk everything to get it? And without it, can she be sure she’s right?
Prepare to be hooked by this dark, gripping crime thriller, perfect for fans of Karin Slaughter, Gillian Flynn and Rachel Caine.
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Books by Miranda Smith
The One Before
What I Know
Some Days Are Dark
Available in audio
What I Know (Available in the UK and the US)
Some Days Are Dark (Available in the UK and the US)
A Letter from Miranda
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read The One Before. If you liked it and want information about upcoming releases, sign up with the following link. Your email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.
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I am thrilled to be sharing this book with all of you, as it’s one I’ve contemplated writing for years. I loved diving into the mindsets of the different characters. Madison, Helena and Celia are all flawed, yet determined in their own ways. The One Before explores how the places we encounter and the events we experience shape and change us. I thought Whisper Falls was the perfect setting for all the mayhem that takes place.
I wrote the bulk of this book during the Covid-19 crisis of 2020. It was therapeutic to escape the worries of the world for a few hours by focusing on the problems of my fictional characters. When I wasn’t writing, I was reading other great books, many in the thriller and suspense genre. In times of uncertainty, we turn to the arts—fiction, poetry, art, music, dance, theater, film—as a source of comfort and entertainment, and I hope we will continue to recognize the importance of these fields.
If you’d like to discuss any of my books, I’d love to connect! You can find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or my website. If you enjoyed The One Before, I’d appreciate it if you left a review on Amazon. It only takes a few minutes and does wonders in helping readers discover my books for the first time.
Thank you again for your support!
Sincerely,
Miranda Smith
www.mirandasmithwriter.com
Some Days Are Dark
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I was happy my husband died, but I couldn’t admit it, otherwise people might think I killed him.
Before
Olivia knows she is lucky. She has a loving husband, Frank, an adorable son, Jake, and a beautiful new home. It couldn’t be more different from her childhood on the outskirts of Whitaker, dirt poor and dreaming of getting out. But at the end of long days with no one to talk to, always feeling like she’s not quite good enough, she starts to wonder if there’s a better life waiting…
After
Everyone in Whitaker knows who Olivia is. She’s the woman who left her family for no-good Dane Miller, and the one who most likely shot him. Now, there’s gossip about her everywhere she goes, she’s too scared to leave the house most days, and she barely gets to see her beloved son.
But if the police and the world think she’s guilty, there’s only one thing she can do—prove her innocence herself. Even if that means putting her own life in danger…
An absolutely gripping, heart-pounding suspense novel about bad choices and second chances. Perfect for fans of Gone Girl, Karin Slaughter and Lisa Gray.
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Acknowledgments
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There are several people I must thank for helping me through this process yet again.
I’d like to thank the fabulous team at Bookouture. This includes Jenny Geras, Kim Nash, Noelle Holten, Sarah Hardy, Leodora Darlington, Alexandra Holmes, Alex Crow, Jane Eastgate, Natasha Hodgson and everyone else behind the scenes working to make each book a success. This is such an innovative, creative and committed team! Thank you for all you do. I’d also like to thank my fellow Bookouture authors for their support and reassurance.
As always, I must thank my editor, Ruth Tross. You have done so much for my books over the past year, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with you. Thank you for your encouragement and insight.
I have a huge support system of friends, family and in-laws. Especially over the past several months, I would not be able to pursue this career without your involvement. Mom and Dad, Carol, Chris, Whitney and Seth, Jennifer, Allison and Tyler: thank you for promoting my books and being there when it all gets a little overwhelming. Although writing is a solitary process, the finished product wouldn’t happen without your love and assistance.
Harrison, Lucy, Christopher, Brody and Quinton: I love you. Take care of each other in the years to come.
Lastly, I’d like to thank my readers. There’s nothing like the excitement of knowing someone read your book and enjoyed it. I love reading your reviews, messages and comments. I greatly appreciate the reviewers who continue to spread the word about my books. Without you, none of this would be possible. Thank you.
Published by Bookouture in 2020
An imprint of Storyfire Ltd.
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
www.bookouture.com
Copyright © Miranda Smith, 2020
Miranda Smith has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
eBook ISBN: 978-1-83888-937-1
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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