I’ve enjoyed both of Bonnie Kistler’s previous novels, “The Cage” and “Her, Too,” but her latest twisty mystery, “Shell Games,” is her best yet. In this superbly crafted novel, we truly don’t know who is guilty of what, and the way she masterminds the ending is nothing short of brilliant. There are novels that you can’t stop reading because you care about the main character or characters; this is one where you can’t stop reading because the plot is so gripping, you can’t wait to find out what happens next, what is true and what isn’t, and who is telling the truth.
Kate Sawyer, who is the main character for the first three chapters until there’s a shocking development, is an extremely wealthy, self-made billionaire who is getting married to her childhood sweetheart. The wedding is on the beach, both formal and extravagant, just as Kate has been formal and extravagant in her life. She’s thrilled to be marrying the love of her life, fifty years late, but at last. But that night, on what is supposed to be the first night of their honeymoon, her new husband Charlie makes a confession to her. He tells her he was the Tylenol killer from 1982, the person who put poison into the Tylenol bottles in Chicago and killed several people. Shocked and heartbroken, Kate calls the police.
The third person narrative changes to Julie’s perspective as she, her husband Eric, Eric’s sister and his sister’s husband all converge on Kate’s hotel room. Charlie tells the police that he never made that statement, and Eric, whom Kate has always hated, wonders if Kate is suffering from dementia. Julie knows that can’t be true; her mother is as sharp as she ever was. But Alex, the brother-in-law, is a neurologist and insists on examining Kate. As they set in motion the narrative that Kate might be mentally incapacitated, Julie refuses to believe it.
Eventually, Charlie is found to have been out of the country, on active duty in the military, when the Tylenol murders took place, so he was released. Kate, meanwhile, has realized that if Charlie is doing this to try to have her declared incompetent so that he can control her vast fortune, she cannot divorce him immediately, as that might make her look unstable. After a week of thinking and pondering, she welcomes Charlie back. But soon after, Kate is found dead, killed by an injection of alcohol. Charlie’s fingerprints are everywhere. Because of their prenup agreement, if Kate divorced Charlie, he’d get nothing. If she dies, he doesn’t get her whole fortune, but he does get a house and boat worth many, many millions.
The story is gripping from the start. We are fascinated by the situation, the characters, and the events. But at this point, the narrative becomes even more intriguing. Eric’s actions are suspicious. Julie’s best friend and sister-in-law Greta and her husband Alex also seem to be up to something. But there is a kind detective who seems to be helping Julie and appears to want to get to the bottom of her mother’s murder.
As we turn the pages, there are more and more revelations. Kate was brilliant in her actions and deviousness regarding her will and the disposition of her huge estate. But there are twists and turns that we could not have predicted. It’s a classic case of misdirection, and Kistler’s misdirection is on par with that of an orchestra conductor as she motions for us to listen to the narrative and believe what she wants us to believe while the cymbals wait, quietly for now, for their turn to make us jump, sit up, and pay attention.
And really, just when you thought you could sit back and enjoy the ending, Kistler has yet another surprise up her sleeve. It’s beautifully executed and shocking. But it all makes sense. I loved every surprise, and I’m very appreciative of the dark tunnels and turns that Kistler’s writing travels. This is a novel that starts and ends with a bang, and there’s not much time to rest in between. Enjoy.
Please note: This review is based on the final paperback provided by Harper, the publisher, for review purposes.