Drawn from Life

Life-changing tragedy. Conflicting memories. Is she a killer or a victim? Emma Gillen is haunted by guilt. Almost a decade after surviving a deadly car crash on a remote Appalachian mountain, she's held hostage by long-term damage to her body and no recollection of that tragic event. Then her volatile cousin Lucy returns, needing money and bringing chaos. Emma must decide if she should bargain with the beautiful, untrustworthy Lucy-a possible witness to the crash-to uncover their shared past. All bargains carry risk. As Lucy grows more desperate and greedy, Emma suspects there's more at stake than just money. Struggling with shame, night terrors, and her own unreliable memory, Emma accepts help from a compassionate detective. But the choice remains hers alone: Can she find the strength to free herself from the danger of her cousin's destructive power, or will Lucy bring everything crashing down? Filled with dark conflict, compelling themes, and memorable characters, this psychological mystery is a thrilling tale of resilience, redemption, and courage. ------- Drawn from Life was shortlisted for The Letter Review Award for Unpublished Books (February 2024), received a 2024 Readers' Favorite Book Award (Fourth Place/Honorable Mention for New Adult Fiction), and was named a finalist for the 2024 American Fiction Awards.