The Lucky One
"This might well be my favorite Rader-Day so far: a brilliant premise intriguingly developed, totally believable characters and a climax that took my breath away." -- Ann Cleeves, New York Times bestselling author of The Shetland and Vera Series
From the author of the Edgar Award(R)-nominated Under A Dark Sky comes an unforgettable, chilling novel about a young woman who recognizes the man who kidnapped her as a child, setting off a search for justice, and into danger.
Most people who go missing are never found. But Alice was the lucky one...
As a child, Alice was stolen from her backyard in a tiny Indiana community, but against the odds, her policeman father tracked her down within twenty-four hours and rescued her from harm. In the aftermath of the crime, her family decided to move to Chicago and close the door on that horrible day.
Yet Alice hasn't forgotten. She devotes her spare time volunteering for a website called The Doe Pages scrolling through pages upon pages of unidentified people, searching for clues that could help reunite families with their missing loved ones. When a face appears on Alice's screen that she recognizes, she's stunned to realize it's the same man who kidnapped her decades ago. The post is deleted as quickly as it appeared, leaving Alice with more questions than answers.
Embarking on a search for the truth, she enlists the help of friends from The Doe Pages to connect the dots and find her kidnapper before he hurts someone else. Then Alice crosses paths with Merrily Cruz, another woman who's been hunting for answers of her own. Together, they begin to unravel a dark, painful web of lies that will change what they thought they knew--and could cost them everything.
Twisting and compulsively readable, The Lucky One explores the lies we tell ourselves to feel safe.
Earn by promoting books
Earn money by sharing your favorite books through our Affiliate program.
Become an affiliate
Lori Rader-Day is the Edgar Award-nominated and Anthony, Agatha, and Mary Higgins Clark Award-winning author of Death at Greenway, The Lucky One, Under a Dark Sky, The Day I Died, Little Pretty Things, and The Black Hour. She lives in Chicago, where she is cochair of the mystery readers' conference Midwest Mystery Conference and teaches creative writing at Northwestern University. She served as the national president of Sisters in Crime in 2020.
"Lori Rader-Day takes us on a twisting journey into a past riven by secrets and lies that challenges everything we think we know about the ties that bind us. The Lucky One is that rare thing, a nail-biting thriller full of heart and soul."--Carol Goodman, award-winning author of The Lake of Dead Languages and The Sea of Lost Girls, on The Lucky One
"Dark, loaded with memorable twists, and featuring a complex, flawed, and unforgettable protagonist, The Lucky One cements Lori Rader-Day's place as one of crime fiction's strongest and most compelling voices. You will devour this timely, chilling novel and find yourself desperate for more."
--Alex Segura, acclaimed author of Blackout and Dangerous Ends, on The Lucky One
"I was riveted from page one by this complex, psychologically astute tale of betrayal and hope with twists that keep coming up until the final breathtaking reveal."
--Hallie Ephron, New York Times bestselling author of Careful What You Wish For, on The Lucky One
"The Lucky One is an irresistible read about two strangers on a quest to uncover the truth about their pasts. Simultaneously a dynamic character study and a riveting mystery, Lori Rader-Day's latest offering is a brilliantly absorbing novel from one of my favorite new crime writers."--Sheena Kamal, internationally bestselling author of The Lost Ones, on The Lucky One
"The award-winning author of Under a Dark Sky puts a new spin on unreliable narrators in a suspense novel with protagonists struggling to find answers. Fans of Rader-Day's other compelling stand-alones will savor this riveting mystery."--Library Journal on The Lucky One
"Rader-Day creates deeply believable, empathetic characters and puts the power in the hands of women, including older women...The tightly crafted storytelling brings heat back into the familiar cold case plot, digging deep into those aches that never really fade."--Publishers Weekly on The Lucky One
"The Lucky One promises to be another signature Lori Rader-Day blend of psychology, suspense, and noir."--CrimeReads on The Lucky One
"[Rader-Day's] gifted storytelling makes this a fine read."--Booklist on The Lucky One
"Another harrowing nightmare by a master of the sleepless night."--Kirkus Reviews on The Lucky One
