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Catherine Adel West - "Strangers Behind Closed Doors" - Cynthia Okechukwu
Featured Book
Strangers Behind Closed Doors
"A thought-provoking thriller filled with jaw-dropping twists that kept me racing through the pages." --Gigi Pandian, USA Today bestselling author of the Secret Staircase Mysteries A twisty thriller about a woman who vanishes from a luxury hotel, and the detective who believes the case is tied to the unsolved disappearances of other Black women in the city. Giovanni Mason worked hard to become the first Black head concierge at Chicago's exclusive and glamorous Ivory Hotel. It's a job that requires patience, perfection, and, above all, self-control. But when Giovanni reunites with her former best friend, makeup influencer Natalie Moore, things get heated as a mending of fences morphs into a public argument in the hotel restaurant, and Giovanni loses her cool. Hours later, Natalie is missing. Evidence piles against Giovanni--a ransacked, blood-spattered hotel room, fresh bruises on her body, and a troubling gap in her memory from the last twelve hours. Detective Redding Stark is the only one unconvinced of Giovanni's guilt. She sees disturbing parallels to a series of disappearances targeting Black women and believes Natalie's case is part of something bigger. Together, she and Giovanni are pulled into a dangerous web of privilege, power, and betrayal inside--and far beyond--the walls of the Ivory Hotel. Will Giovanni and Detective Stark find Natalie or join the missing?
This book will be available for purchase at the event.
About This Event
Catherine Adel West will discuss her new novel Strangers Behind Closed Doors. She will be joined in conversation by Cynthia Okechukwu. A Q&A and book signing will follow the discussion.
At 57th Street Books
About the Book: When No One is Watching meets The White Lotus in this captivating thriller about a woman who disappears after a public fight with her former best friend, the head concierge at a famous luxury hotel, and the female detective who believes the case is tied to the unsolved disappearances of other Black women in the city.
Giovanni Mason has worked her entire life to become the first Black head concierge at the glamorous and exclusive Ivory Hotel, a five-star luxury resort in Chicago. It's a job that requires patience, perfection, and above all, self-control. But when Giovanni reunites with her former best friend, make-up influencer Natalie Moore, things get heated--a mending of fences morphs into an ugly, public argument in the hotel restaurant, and Giovanni loses her cool. Then, Natalie goes missing that night, and all signs--including a blood-spattered, ransacked hotel room and a witness statement--point to Giovanni.
Beleaguered detective Redding Stark is the only one who thinks Giovanni isn't the culprit. A series of unsolved disappearances have been haunting the city, all involving Black women, and Detective Stark believes this case is connected. As she and Giovanni investigate, they're drawn deep into a labyrinth of power, privilege, and betrayal within the iconic hotel.
Will Giovanni and Detective Redding find Natalie or join the missing?
About the Author: Catherine Adel West was born and raised in Chicago, where she currently resides. She graduated with both her Bachelors and Masters of Science in Journalism from the University of Illinois - Urbana. Author of Saving Ruby King and The Two Lives of Sara, Catherine was named one of USA Today's Black Authors You Should Know.
About the Interlocutor: Cynthia Okechukwu is an attorney and avid reader who has proudly called Chicago home for thirteen years. She is the founder of Black Girls Read Chicago, an in-person book club and online platform that centers books by Black women writers. By collectively elevating and celebrating the work of Black women writers, Black Girls Read Chicago affirms that our stories matter.
Featured Author
Catherine Adel West
Catherine Adel West was born and raised in Chicago, where she currently resides. She graduated with both her Bachelors and Masters of Science in Journalism from the University of Illinois - Urbana. Author of Saving Ruby King and The Two Lives of Sara, Catherine was named one of USA Today's Black Authors You Should Know.
In Conversation With
Cynthia Okechukwu
Cynthia Okechukwu is an attorney and avid reader who has proudly called Chicago home for thirteen years. She is the founder of Black Girls Read Chicago, an in-person book club and online platform that centers books by Black women writers. By collectively elevating and celebrating the work of Black women writers, Black Girls Read Chicago affirms that our stories matter.
About the Venue
57th Street Books
The South Side's neighborhood bookstore since 1983, 57th Street Books houses a substantial selection of general interest titles, including kids’ books, popular fiction, cookbooks, sci-fi, and mysteries.
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