The Many Lies of Veronica Hawkins

July 29, 2024
An American woman learns to navigate Hong Kong’s wealthy expat culture in this busy debut from literary agent Pérez. After moving to Hong Kong for her husband’s finance job, Martina Torres struggles to adjust, with little to do but attend luncheons with the ruthless wives of executives. Longing for more meaningful connections, she’s thrilled when she meets the sophisticated Veronica Hawkins, heiress to a British mercantile dynasty. The two become fast friends, with Veronica teaching Martina to love Hong Kong and empowering her to return to work. Then Veronica drowns during a ball at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club—though no one saw her fall into the water. Just before she died, Veronica named Martina the director of a foundation that supports up-and-coming artists. When financial discrepancies pop up after Veronica’s death, Martina is accused of embezzlement. Determined to clear her name and find out what happened to her friend, Martina launches an investigation that unearths inconsistencies in Veronica’s biography. Pérez provides fascinating tidbits about Hong Kong’s colonial history, but they’re not enough to compensate for an overstuffed plot that resolves with a too-predictable twist. It’s a case of squandered potential. Agent: Joelle Hobeika, Alloy Entertainment.

Starred review from August 1, 2024
Martina Torres was born in NYC to an Argentinian father and a hyperambitious Scandinavian mother. So her marriage to Spencer Merton, from one of New York's wealthiest families, delights her mother. When Spencer is offered a career-boosting job in Hong Kong, Martina is excited, even if it means giving up her job as a fledgling journalist; the move will distance her from her overbearing mother and snooty mother-in-law. Martina finds the city more than she could have hoped--lively and colorful--but a bit overwhelming, especially given her "dependent expat" status. She meets Veronica Hawkins, one of the city's richest, most glamorous women, and can't believe it when Veronica takes a shine to her. The two become friends, and Martina finally feels she's "finding her feet." Then Veronica disappears from a gala charity cruise; her decomposing body washes up on the shore weeks later. Martina is bereft and decides to write a memoir to help exorcise her grief. The book becomes an instant, global best-seller--but how far has Martina gone to gloss over, cover up, or distort secrets about herself and her life in Hong Kong? A must-read that's dark, disturbing, and suspenseful while also being a compelling story about identity, deception, and ambition.

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