The Fault Between Us

Landsem (Code Name Edelweiss) unspools a thrilling tale of family turmoil set against the backdrop of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake in Montana. Claire, Bridget, and Frannie Reilly’s mother walked out on the family when they were kids, leaving all three with deep emotional scars. Seventeen years later, Bridget, a nurse, and Frannie, a rebellious teen, still live with their dad in Minnesota, but Claire has moved to West Yellowstone, Mont., with her husband, Red, and baby daughter, Jenny. When Bridget gets a summer position at a hospital in Yellowstone, their father asks her to take Frannie along and bring Claire, her husband, and their baby back home at the end of the season. Upon arriving in Montana, Bridget and Frannie find that Red and Claire are barely speaking to each other. Meanwhile, relations among the three sisters aren’t much better—especially after Red leaves to take a job three hundred miles away, kicking Claire’s fears of abandonment into high gear. When an earthquake hits, triggering severe flooding, the three sisters must put their faith in God and one another to survive. In the process, they uncover buried secrets about themselves and their mother’s long-ago departure. Landsem keeps the tension high throughout with a perfect balance of zippy action and detailed character work. It’s a must-read for fans of clean historical fiction. (Nov.)