Never Tell: A Novel (Detective D. D. Warren)

Never Tell: A Novel (Detective D. D. Warren)

#1 New York Times bestseller Lisa Gardner returns with an unpredictable thriller that puts fan favorites D. D. Warren and Flora Dane on a shocking new case that begins with a vicious murder and gets darker from there. A man is dead, shot three times in his home office. But his computer has been shot twelve times, and when the cops arrive, his pregnant wife is holding the gun. D. D. Warren arrives on the scene and recognizes the woman—Evie Carter—from a case many years back. Evie's father was killed in a shooting that was ruled an accident. But for D.D., two coincidental murders is too many. Flora Dane sees the murder of Conrad Carter on the TV news and immediately knows his face. She remembers a night when she was still a victim—a hostage—and her captor knew this man. Overcome with guilt that she never tracked him down, Flora is now determined to learn the truth of Conrad's murder. But D.D. and Flora are about to discover that in this case the truth is a devilishly elusive thing. As layer by layer they peel away the half-truths and outright lies, they wonder: How many secrets can one family have? Praise for Never Tell “Gardner knows how to weave a deeply moving and psychological thriller that pulls no punches in its authenticity. She is one of the masters when it comes to crime fiction. Fans of her novels will consider this one of her best, and newcomers will be in awe of the compelling story and unpredictability of the proceedings.” —Associated Press “This is easily Gardner’s most ambitious, complex tale ever, a shattering emotional journey that’s utterly relentless in pacing and suspense. Tell everyone that  Never Tell  is an early candidate for the best thriller of 2019.” — Providence Journal “Nail-biting . . . Gardner’s commendable storytelling will keep fans eagerly waiting for the next outing for D.D. and Flora.”— Publishers Weekly “If you’re into secrets, lies, Gardner’s amazing words, or simply an action-packed mystery that does leave you breathless, this is the one for you! It is so good, it almost feels like the author sat down and created a holiday gift for her fans around the globe.”— Suspense Magazine  “ Never Tell  is another nail-biting page-turner from Lisa Gardner, the undisputed queen of suspense, and the kind of thriller that’ll stay with readers weeks after turning the final page.” — The Real Book Spy “ Never Tell is raw, visceral, emotional; the sentences come at you like MP5 rounds; and it features three incredible characters--D.D., Flora, and Evie--who alone could carry any narrative. Together, they create a tsunami of a thriller. This may well be Gardner’s best work, and that is saying something.”— David Baldacci “Lisa Gardner has outdone herself with this powerful novel about three women, two murders, and uncountable secrets. From its stunning opening to its last thrilling page, Never Tell will captivate, surprise, and satisfy you.” —Lisa Scottoline “ Never Tell shocks the system like ten thousand volts. D.D. Warren’s most gripping case yet. Brace yourself, gulp down a deep breath, and dive in.” —A. J. Finn Lisa Gardner is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of over twenty suspense novels, including The Neighbor , which won Thriller of the Year from the International Thriller Writers. An avid hiker, traveler, and cribbage player, she lives in the mountains of New Hampshire with her family. Chapter 1   Evie   By the time I pull my car into the garage, my hands are shaking on the wheel. I tell myself I have no reason to feel so nervous. I tell myself I've done nothing wrong. I still sit there an extra beat, staring straight ahead, as if some magic answer to the mess that is my life will appear in the windshield.   It doesn't.   With a bit of care, I can still slide out of the driver's seat. I'm bigger, but not that much bigger. I fight more with my bulky coat and the strap of my oversized purse, as I ease out from behind the steering wheel. Conrad bought me the purse as a Christmas gift last year. From Coach. Real leather. At least a couple hundred dollars. At the time, I'd been so excited I'd thrown my arms around him and squealed. He'd laughed, told me he'd seen me eyeing the bag in the store and had just known he had to get it for me.   When I'd hugged him then, he'd hugged me back. When I'd laughed that day, and giddily opened up the huge, gray leather bag to explore all the compartments, he'd laughed with me.   Christmas morning. Nearly one year ago.   Had we hugged since? Laughed since?   The bulge in my belly would argue we'd found some way to connect, and yet, if not for the streams of bright colored lights and gaudy decorations covering my neighborhood, I'm not sure it would feel like the holidays at all. As it is, we're one of the last undecorated houses on the block. A wreath on our door; that's it. Each weekend, we promised to get a tree. Each weekend, we didn't.   I take my time hefting my purse over my shoulder.