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Summary
Summary
"Palmer burnishes his status as one of today's best thriller writers with this emotionally gripping and steel-trap plotted standalone. Palmer is so successful at getting readers to invest in Gage that his travails are almost too painful to read about." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"This is one of those thrillers where you know something is going on, and the writer gives you plenty of clues, but there are still some twists and turns he keeps hidden away until just the right moment. A smartly constructed tale that operates on multiple levels." - Booklist
"Fans of well-crafted Hitchcock-like thrillers will enjoy Desperate." - Associated Press
"If you've somehow missed reading Daniel Palmer, it's time to -- pardon the pun -- get Desperate." --Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Brimming with suspense and unrelenting twists, acclaimed author Daniel Palmer's latest thriller delves into the waking nightmare of a well meaning couple whose biggest--and most ordinary--dream has gone terrifyingly awry. . .
Gage Dekker still blames himself for the car accident that claimed the lives of his first wife and young son. Then he meets Anna, who understands grief all too well. Within a year, Gage and Anna are married, his career is thriving, and both feel ready to become parents once more.
After a heartbreaking miscarriage, they begin the long adoption process, until fate brings Lily into their lives. Young, pregnant, and homeless, Lily agrees to give her baby to Gage and Anna in exchange for financial support. It's the perfect arrangement for everyone. Seeing his wife's happiness and optimism for their new life and child, Gage begins to feel a sense of hope he thought he'd lost forever.
But something isn't right once Lily enters their lives. At work and at home, Gage is being sabotaged, first in subtle ways, then things take a more sinister turn. Every attempt he makes to uncover the truth only drives a wedge between him and Anna. Even as he's propelled toward an unthinkable choice to save his marriage and his job, Gage discovers that the most chilling revelations are still to come. . .
Praise for the novels of Daniel Palmer
Desperate"If you've somehow missed reading Daniel Palmer, it's time to--pardon the pun--get Desperate." --Harlan Coben
Stolen
"Unrelentingly suspenseful." -- Publishers Weekly
"A twisting, suspenseful chiller of a book." --William Landay
Helpless
"Warning: once you start reading this novel, you will not stop!" -Lisa Gardner
Delirious
"Not just a great thriller debut, but a great thriller, period." --Lee Child
Author Notes
Daniel Palmer is the author of numerous critically acclaimed suspense novels, including Delirious and Desperate . After receiving his master's degree from Boston University, he spent a decade as an e-commerce pioneer before turning his attention to writing. A recording artist, accomplished blues harmonica player, and lifelong Red Sox fan, Daniel lives in New Hampshire with his wife and two children. Visit him online at www.DanielPalmerBooks.com
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Palmer (Stolen) burnishes his status as one of today's best thriller writers with this emotionally gripping and steel-trap plotted standalone. Gage Dekker works at Lithio Systems, a maker of lithium-ion batteries in Waltham, Mass., doing quality assurance for a revolutionary new product. The loss of his seven-year-old son and first wife to a drunk driver still haunts him, but he's tried to move on with a new spouse, Anna Miller, who also lost her son. Having failed to produce a baby of their own, Gage and Anna, a management consultant, have begun looking into adoption. One day at a bus stop, they encounter a crying pregnant woman, Lily, sitting on the curb. Anna gives Lily her card in case she needs help. Two weeks later, Lily turns up at their apartment to say she's willing to let them adopt her baby. Lily moves into a spare room, but Gage soon gets bad vibes from her after a number of creepy incidents. The truth behind Lily's offer is both complex and logical, and Palmer is so successful at getting readers to invest in Gage that his travails are almost too painful to read about. Agent: Meg Ruley, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
In Palmer's latest, a couple who came together under tragic circumstances they met at a support group for parents whose children have died decides to adopt. This doesn't sound especially implausible, but there's also the fact that the child Gage and Anna decide to adopt is the unborn baby of Lily, a young woman they happened to meet at a bus stop (who then tracked them down to their house and offered them her child). The book is full of crazy-person red flags, and, to be fair, Gage does see them, does think something's not quite right with Lily. But every time he accuses Lily of something, Anna jumps to the girl's defense, and there's always a seemingly simple explanation. This is one of those thrillers where you know something is going on, and the writer gives you plenty of clues, but there are still some twists and turns he keeps hidden away until just the right moment. A smartly constructed tale that operates on multiple levels.--Pitt, David Copyright 2010 Booklist
Library Journal Review
After the death of his wife and son, Gage Dekker marries again, hoping to build a new family. He and Anna met at a grief counseling group, and they hope to adopt a child. Lily, who says she wants to give up her baby, moves in with them, and Gage finds himself facing one tense situation after another at home and at the security technology firm where he works. Trying to protect his wife, Gage makes one dire and desperate decision that leads to many more-and not a little danger. The characters seem irrational, but if the listener perseveres to the end, the plot twists come together to an unanticipated conclusion. Peter Berkot creates distinct voices for each of Palmer's characters. Verdict Recommended for those who enjoy modern suspense novels.-Cheryl Youse, Moultrie, GA (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.