Beneath the Marigolds

Description

Playing on our universal fascination with reality TV, Emily Whitson’s Beneath the Marigolds is the Bachelor(ette) gone terribly wrong. Reese Marigold saved Ann Stone from a life of addiction by introducing Ann to AA and serving as her sponsor in recovery. Despite their differences—Reese is a hopeless romantic, while Ann is a no-nonsense attorney—the women remain close ten years later. So when Reese goes missing after attending Last Chance, an exclusive singles’ retreat off the coast of Hawaii, Ann infiltrates the retreat.

Quickly, Ann realizes there’s more to Last Chance than meets the eye. With its extravagant clothes, never-ending interviews, and bizarre dates, Ann begins to suspect the retreat is a front for a reality dating show. Could Reese be safe and sound, keeping a low profile until the premier, or did something more sinister occur? As Ann traces Reese’s last known movements, partakes in the unusual “journey,” and meets the other attendees who all have something to hide, she jeopardizes her career, her sanity, and her life to find her missing friend.

Told from the perspective of both Ann and Reese, Beneath the Marigolds is a fast-paced thriller that explores friendship, women in recovery, and the traditional marriage path idealized by today’s numerous dating and relationship reality shows.

“Cleverly plotted . . . Whitson’s debut novel is an intriguing new entry in the women’s suspense genre, driven by dual first-person narrators and tension-filled parallel timelines.” —Carmen Amato, Silver Falchion Award Finalist and Author of the Detective Emilia Cruz Mystery Series

Emily Whitson received a B.A. in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She worked as a marketing copywriter for six years before pursuing a career in fiction and education. She is currently getting her M.Ed. at Vanderbilt University, where she writes between classes.

She is particularly passionate about women’s education and female stories. This interest stems from her time at Harpeth Hall, an all-girls college preparatory school in Nashville, Tennessee. When she isn’t volunteering, writing, or in the classroom, Emily can usually be found with her dog, Hoss, in one of Nashville’s various parks. Beneath the Marigolds is her debut novel.

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  *Inspired by ABC's The Bachelor(ette): Emily Whitson explores what would happen if an exotic singles retreat, inspired by the artificial glamor and romance of The Bachelor(ette), went horribly wrong.
*Ideal for Book Clubs: Many readers will enjoy discussing this book for the psychological thriller story and the potential darkness underneath reality TV relationships.
*Perfect for Psychological Thriller Fans: Lucy Foley's The Guest List, Paula Hawkins' The Girl on the Train, or a darker twist to Kate Stayman-London's One to Watch.
*Author location / Story location: Author Emily Whitson lives in Nashville, TN, and Beneath the Marigolds takes place on a fictional island in Hawaii.