Summer Book Preview: “One in Four” By Lucinda Berry

Mystery thrillers have always been popular, but the market has become oversaturated recently. Quantity has overcome quality in my non-expert opinion, leading to predictable storylines and cliches. Nevertheless, as my kid would say, many talented authors leave no crumbs. Former psychologist Lucinda Berry is such an author, and I recently read her upcoming book, “One in Four.” 

The novel begins with a climax and ends with a twist I didn’t foresee. 

In the City of Angels, chemical dependency counselor Dr. Laurel Harlow finds herself working on “Comeback Kids,” a reality show about former child stars who’d succumbed to addiction and their journey to recovery. When a star dies and it’s ruled as foul play, Harlow becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation. As the plot unfolds, the chapters alternate between Laurel’s point of view in the present and an unknown young woman in the past. Other main characters include Laurel’s wife, Noel, and the producer of “Comeback Kids,” Gia. 

Between a slow burn and a simmer, the plot drew me in and kept my attention. 

The characters are complex, though I sometimes found their development flat, leaving me to fill in the blanks. Additionally, the chapters alternate between two points of view, which is an obvious change. Still, readers who may shy away from such types of narration will have little difficulty telling them apart. Imagery throughout the novel is macabre. Given the subject matter, Berry didn’t shy away from the sordid nature of addiction, sexual assault, and self-harm. 

I definitely recommend this book to readers looking for a gritty mystery and surprises at each turn, though it is worth noting there are potential triggers. In a society where even reality is edited and nothing is ever as it seems, M. Night Shyamalan could stand to learn a lesson from Berry’s storytelling skills. “One in Four” by Lucinda Berry debuts on May 13th, 2025.

Featured image via Amazon