In a âthriller with a sharp take on wealth and privilegeâ (People, Book of the Week), two best friends grift their way through the California eliteâuntil one scam goes awry.
âA propulsive, sun-drenched adventure with smart, sharp commentary on wealth and power.ââGrace D. Li, New York Times bestselling author of Portrait of a Thief
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: PopSugar, Harperâs Bazaar, CrimeReads
Summer and Leo would do anything for each other. Inspired by the way each has had to carve her place in a hostile and unforgiving world, and united by the call of the open road, they travel around sunny California in Summerâs tricked-out Land Cruiser. Itâs not a glamorous life, but it gives them the freedom they crave from the painful pasts theyâve left behind. But even free spirits have bills to pay. Luckily, Summer is a skilled pickpocket, a small-time thief, and a con artistâand Leo, determined to pay her own way, has learned a trick or two.
Eager for a big score, Leo catches in her crosshairs Michael Forrester, a self-made billionaire and philanthropist. When her charm wins him over, Leo is rewarded with an invitation to his private island off the California coastline for a night of fabulous excess. She eagerly anticipates returning with photos that can be sold to the paparazzi, jewelry that can be liquidated, and endless stories to share with Summer.
Instead, Leo disappears.
On her own for the first time in years, Summer decides to infiltrate Michaelâs island and find out what really happened. But when she arrives, no one has seen Leoâsheâs not on the island as far as they know. Plus, there was only one way on the islandâand no way offâfor the coming days. Trapped in a scheme she helped initiate, could Summer have met her match?