"Hanson debuts with an impressive and suspenseful tale of the thorny relationship between two unusual women. Ruth and Dorothy are remarkably well-drawn characters, nasty and endearing in equal measure, and Hanson provides them with a satisfyingly unpredictable plot. This is a discomfiting good time."

Publishers Weekly

"A wonderfully claustrophobic tale of obsession and self-delusion... The author excels at acclimating the reader to the logic of her characters, which is effectively deployed for moments of both repulsion and humor... Hanson deftly conveys how celebrity fandom becomes its own sort of grotesquerie for all involved; the twists are many and fun, but there's a real darkness here that sticks with the reader after the book is finished."

Kirkus Reviews

"The Palisades is a hypnotic page-turner that provokes uneasiness and bouts of remorse for deeds undone. It is a book that is painstaking about detailing the minutiae of consumerism, ownership, and superficiality. A psych-horror undercurrent ripples through the story, twisting sentence fragments into moments of profound insight, only to scupper the self-reflection by drowning it beneath a multiverse of internal psychoses. It's a brilliant peek at the bejeweled ghosts of Hollywood who always keep their secrets hidden."

Foreword/Clarion Reviews 5/5 stars

"Gail Lynn Hanson demonstrates an exceptional ability to immerse the reader n the minds of her characters.

Hanson effectively captures the absurdity of celebrity fandom but also delves into the darker aspects of the phenomenon.

Overall, the book is a rollercoaster ride of twists and turns that is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers."

Midwest Book Review

"Hanson's literary novel skillfully holds a mirror to the darker aspects of the human psyche. Both

Dorothy and Ruth are held hostage by their disappointments and painful regrets. At face value,

neither are "likable" characters. Dorothy is unapologetically judgmental, classist, and racist.

Ruth's distressing personal history evokes sympathy, but she's also manipulative and

untrustworthy; after droves of patients died under her watch, Ruth was fired from her job at a

state-run nursing home. Yet Hanson ably crafts an emotionally rich narrative that builds on the

tension simmering between Dorothy and Ruth.

Anchored by Hanson's deft character construction, this compelling story holds all the appeal of

a Hitchcockian psychological thriller, and the cinematic ending will hit readers like a punch to the

gut."

Blueink Review

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"Hanson brought back my love of psychological thrillers. Bravo!"

​Readers's Favorites

"The laser-like focus on a particularly nuanced and emotionally dynamic relationship... Hanson demonstrates a quite profound gift for human observation..."

​Readers's Favorites

"The intricate dance that the two (characters) perform throughout the book tingles with electricity...the lines between honesty and manipulation get ever more blurred. Overall, The Palisades is an unmissable character study that will stay with readers for a long time after the final page is turned. I recommend it highly."

​Readers's Favorites