David Majek and his sons are still finding their way 6 months after his wife was killed by a hit-and-run driver who was never apprehended for the crime. Then strange things start happening: a man in a fedora is watching the house, David’s bank account is drained of funds overnight, and as David struggles to maintain his household, run the family business and untangle these mysteries, details come to light that threaten to tear the family apart.

I don’t usually read suspense novels, preferring fare that is more character-driven. But I found that David Majek’s character was quite well-developed in Jeanne Grunert’s novel I Believe You, and it didn’t take long for me to get drawn into the story. The various mysteries come to be connected in a plausible way, and the pacing was not so fast that you couldn’t get acquainted with the characters.

David runs an investment firm, aided by his more-volatile younger brother Constantine. Irregularities at the company  prove to be a concern, and while some detail was given, there wasn’t too much financial “inside baseball” that would distract from the story.

More than just a thriller, this novel deals with complicated family relationships. David’s youngest son, Eddie, is deaf, and nuances of communication become a problem, especially when it becomes evident that Eddie is hiding something.

It may take some help from beyond the grave to solve the mysteries in this story. Chopin’s Polonaise in F# minor figures prominently in the plot, and the music sets the tone for the novel.

Enter to win a copy of I Believe You to read for yourself. The prize is a paperback first edition of the novel. There are errors in the first-edition copies, but they don’t impact the plot, so enjoy the book and consider it a collector’s item.

HOW TO WIN: Leave a comment on this post.

Giveaway closes at 11:59 PM on Monday, October 31, and one winner will be chosen by random drawing on Tuesday, November 1. Winner will be contacted via email (so please make sure you check the email you use to comment here!) Winner will have 48 hours to reply to email notification before an alternate winner is chosen.

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