Miami attorney Bet Lenard has had a rough year. She’s battling an unknown illness that drives her to drink to cope with her pain. Her lawyer husband has divorced her and taken the best part of their business, their home and their children.

On the night of May 16, 1996, Bet finds herself in the Everglades in the middle of the night, drugged, lost and next to a burned car with a dead body in it. Hoping she’s hit bottom, Bet must drag herself out of her living hell and discover who tried to kill her. Was it her ex-husband, not satisfied with stealing everything that mattered? An angry client, unhappy with the outcome of their case? Her best friend’s husband, livid that Bet’s restraining order kicked him out of her life forever? Police officers fuming that Bet helped a client convict a dirty cop who was their friend? She has no idea.

As she tries to sort out the motives behind her would-be killer, even more suspects come to light. The only thing keeping Bet sane is her relationship with her therapist, who encourages her to struggle and survive, despite everything that’s gone wrong. How will Bet discover the truth and bring her enemy to justice before they strike again and, this time, succeed?

As a former attorney practicing in Miami and south Dade County, I lived in these neighborhoods and dealt with dangerous situations, both natural and manmade. Many scenes in this book are based on situations I experienced personally–unfortunately not where I made millions of dollars as a criminal defense attorney !!

The going into labor scene–100% true. 🙂 I still feel badly for that judge.

Our characters: ( thanks to Deposit for our photo family)

Bettina Lenard is a beautiful 30-something attorney who had everything. She now has nearly nothing. A mystery illness that causes her constant pain goes undiagnosed, and her doctors think she’s probably just stressed. Left to deal with the pain on her own, she turns to alcohol. While she’s still able to practice, her family falls apart. But the worst is yet to come.

Richard Lenard: Bet’s ex-husband, senior partner in their law firm and a real hand-shaker and man about town. Takes the description “silver fox” as his personal mantra. Loves his sports cars. Truly loves them. More than the lady in his life.

Mela Silvani: A former client and Cuban ex-patriate, now Bet’s right-hand woman, secretary and friend. She has a dangerously violent ex-husband .

Hyacinth Martell: Bet’s therapist, who’s helping her deal with the pain and depression around her mystery illness, as well as the disintegration of Bet’s marriage

Dr. Giamo Rimon: The emergency room doctor who takes a personal interest in Bet’s case after the Incident. Fortunately, he has broad ties in the medical community.

Jane and Jeremy Lenard: Bet and Richard’s children, teenagers as the story begins, living with their father in the former family home. I mean, can you feel the eye roll there?

MOST IMPORTANTLY, This book is dedicated to women with chronic illness, who often go years without proper diagnosis, seeing doctors who don’t believe them, and their ongoing fight to educate themselves and those around them. May they have their best lives in the end.

NOW AVAILABLE from The Wild Rose Press, July 10, 2024

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