Nalini Singh (the Psy/Changeling series) turns to suspense in A Madness of Sunshine, transporting readers to the remote, beautiful and dangerous coast of New Zealand's South Island. Acclaimed pianist Anahera Rawiri returns to the isolated community of Golden Cove, seeking solace after discovering the infidelity of her recently deceased husband. When a gifted local photographer disappears, Anahera joins forces with newcomer and town detective Will Gallagher to solve the mystery.
As they search for the missing girl, each clue they uncover seems further to complicate the case; any number of suspects seem viable. Could this quaint small town, where everyone knows their neighbor, be harboring a killer? When Anahera and Will find links to unexplained disappearances of tourists in the past, they're forced to consider whether a single person may have committed multiple murders. Anahera struggles to accept the possibility that one of her childhood friends may be a killer. Could madness be concealed behind one of the familiar faces she knows so well? She herself fits the profile of the young women who have died--could she be next on the killer's agenda? Anahera and Will must work swiftly to resolve the case if she is to escape being the next victim.
In this intriguing tale, a complicated plot with multiple possible villains challenges readers to identify the murderer. The book's world of coastal New Zealand is wonderfully brooding, moodily atmospheric and possesses a nearly sentient quality that's riveting and blood-chilling. Fans of suspense and thriller novels will thoroughly enjoy this twisty story. --Lois Faye Dyer, writer and reviewer