Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Its title alluding to the maxim about how disintegration can begin imperceptibly yet accelerate rapidly toward its conclusion, Schott’s impressive debut novel is a cautionary tale following a social-climbing couple whose character flaws leave them susceptible to an unknown entity determined to dismantle their lives. Ambitious divorce lawyer Hailey and college professor Mack are parents to two small children whose care they primarily outsource. As striving newcomers to their posh Cleveland suburb, and under imminent threat of losing their status, the couple rationalizes accepting a series of large checks despite not knowing their provenance or the motive behind them. Hailey and Mack soon discover that the money is actually prepayment for secret, illicit acts they are obliged to perform. Increasingly compromised by poor decisions and desperate to preserve appearances, they easily fall victim to a ruthless adversary and predictably turn on each other. With chapters narrated alternatingly by Hailey, Mack, and an unknown character, Schott’s thriller is cleverly plotted and would appeal to fans of domestic suspense and other "eat the rich" narratives.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A mysterious benefactor turns menacing for a young couple with financial problems. Everything comes at a price. That’s the lesson in Schott’s first book for adults, a suspense novel about a married couple striving for upper-middle-class success whose lives veer off course when financial problems ambush them. On the outside, the future appears rosy for the Evanses: They have two young daughters, an expensive new house in an exclusive neighborhood and once-solid careers. But Mack, who teaches English at a Cleveland technical college, falls under official scrutiny after throwing parties for his students, just as he has to take over the staggering monthly payments for his mother’s assisted living facility in Florida. His wife, Hailey, a divorce attorney, runs afoul of her successful law firm when she finds herself caught between a warring couple, neither of whom seems inclined to pay their bill. So when the Evanses start getting checks in the mail from an unknown business called Sunshine Enterprises, the money is welcome, and Mack can’t resist spending it. But then a mysterious entity starts making outrageous and illegal demands in return, and Mack and Hailey can only wonder how far they’ll go to prop up their crumbling American dream. The threat, of course, is the sort of far-fetched plot device that would be rendered impotent by calling the police, but Schott comes up with enough roadblocks to keep the story feasible, and she fills the story with enough suspects to keep you guessing. She’s also effective at chronicling the unraveling of the Evanses’ marriage and makes a strong case for the all-too-real perils of living beyond one’s means. The perspective shifts among Mack, Hailey, and a malevolent observer who provides insight into motivation, and while the ending isn’t entirely satisfying, getting there can be entertaining. A thriller with plenty of tension despite being powered by an improbable plot device. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Publishers Weekly
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Editor and ghostwriter Schott’s unsettling debut follows a family struggling to keep up appearances in a wealthy Cleveland suburb. Divorce attorney Hailey Evans and her husband, English professor Mack, have spent most of their savings on the glamorous new home they share with their two young daughters. Elsewhere, they’re squeezed: Hailey’s biggest client is refusing to pay a hefty legal bill, Mack is on leave after being wrongfully accused of sexually harassing a student, and the insurance coverage that pays for Mack’s mother’s nursing home is about to end. Then a check from a mysterious entity called Sunshine Enterprises arrives in the mail, and Mack is convinced it’s his estranged father making up for lost time. More checks arrive in increasing amounts, and, desperate for the windfall, Mack deposits them. Soon, however, the checks are accompanied by threatening messages, and the Evanses’ anonymous benefactor blackmails them into carrying out acts of violence. Though it becomes increasingly difficult to root for Hailey and Mack as their misdeeds escalate, Schott’s brisk pacing, clever red herrings, and haunting denouement save the day. It’s an auspicious first effort. Agent: Christy Fletcher, UTA. (Jan.)