Girl in the Rearview Mirror

Entertainment Weekly Hottest Read of the Summer • USA Today Hottest Read of the Week • Refinery29 Best Thriller of June • New York Post best book of the week

The young nanny for a prominent political family gets drawn into a web of deadly lies—including her own—in this stunning debut thriller with the menacing twists of Megan Abbott and the exquisite suspense of Laura Lippman.

They are Phoenix’s First Family: handsome Philip Martin, son of the sitting Senator, an ex-football player who carries himself with an easy grace and appears destined to step into his father’s seat when the time is right; his wife Marina, the stylish and elegant director of Phoenix’s fine arts museum; and their four-year-old daughter Amabel, beautiful and precocious and beloved.

Finn Hunt is working a dull office job to pay off her college debt when she meets Philip and charms Amabel. She eagerly agrees to nanny, thinking she’s lucked into the job of a lifetime. Though the glamour of the Martins’ lifestyle undeniably dazzles Finn, her real pleasure comes from being part of the family: sharing quick jokes with Philip in the kitchen before he leaves for work; staying late when Marina needs a last-minute sitter; and spending long days with Amabel, who is often treated more like a photo op than a child.

But behind every façade lurks a less attractive truth. When a young woman approaches Finn, claiming a connection with Philip and asking Finn to pass on a message, Finn becomes caught up in a web of deceit with the senate seat at its center. And Finn isn’t exactly innocent herself: she too has a background she has kept hidden, and under the hot Phoenix sun, everything is about to be laid bare… 

Praise for GIRL IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR:

“There may still be a pervasive Book-With-Girl-In-The-Title fatigue among many readers and retailers, but this one should go a long way toward curing that. Kelsey Rae Dimberg writes with sharp-yet-subtle sophistication, creating a world of personal and political intrigue in which memories are speculative and motives are suspect. Dynamic characters, a propulsive plot, and thought-provoking social commentary co-mingle to create a heady mix of conspiracy, crime, and cover-up. It’s an impressive accomplishment for a debut novelist; indeed, Girl in the Rearview Mirror promises good things ahead for the author, and for us.”
— Criminal Element review

“Dimberg’s story is so alive, her characters so real, her writing so chaste that you’ll be reading this at stoplights. If Girl in the Rearview Mirror isn’t shortlisted for big literary prizes, it’s only because Dimberg is the new kid on the block.” — Durango Telegraph review

“Dimberg’s story, laden with intelligence, shocks and arresting prose, soars. As Dimberg reveals the secrets and lies that animate her tale, and as a river of death runs through it, even the most astute readers of suspense fiction will find themselves engulfed by multiple stunners, including an explosive and unforeseen conclusion. … She succeeds with verve and intensity—and her initial effort foreshadows a brilliant future.” — Fredericksburg Freelance-Star

“Dizzyingly twisty … [with a] bombshell final betrayal. Dimberg’s evocative prose and affecting characters flag her as a writer to watch.” — Publishers Weekly

“Finn’s raw, relatable perspective will hook readers. Dimberg is one to watch.” — Booklist

“With hairpin twists and immense psychological acuity, Kelsey Rae Dimberg’s Girl in the Rearview Mirror is as seductive as the glamorous, privileged family at its center—and as cunning. An exciting, intoxicating debut, it will hold you until its startling final pages.”
— Megan Abbott, bestselling author of DARE ME and GIVE ME YOUR HAND

“GIRL IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR is a thrilling, thoughtful, and suspenseful debut that shines a light into how power changes everyone who has it, or is in close enough proximity to be consumed by it. I read Dimberg’s book in a single sitting, and have no doubt readers will be as gripped by the narrative as I was.”
— Sarah Weinman, author of THE REAL LOLITA: THE KIDNAPPING OF SALLY HORNER AND THE NOVEL THAT SCANDALIZED THE WORLD

“Utterly compelling, this story reveals its secrets slowly and mysteriously under the sweltering sun of Arizona. A gripping story that expertly weaves domestic and political intrigue.”
— Rosamund Lupton, bestselling author of SISTER and THE QUALITY OF SILENCE

“I tore through GIRL IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR; it really is a truly accomplished debut. Kelsey Rae Dimberg has that rare ability to blend breakneck pace with razor-sharp characterization and shimmering, immersive prose. A charged, tense, highly emotional story that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.”
— Caz Frear, author of SWEET LITTLE LIES and STONE COLD HEART

“I felt the ghost of Mary Jo Kopechne hovering among the pages of GIRL IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, a riveting tale of an appealing young woman caught in the thrall of a powerful political family’s prestige and privilege."
— Hallie Ephron, New York Times bestselling author of CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR