Off the Deep End

PRAISE FOR LUCINDA BERRY THE SECRETS OF US “Those looking for an emotional roller-coaster ride will be rewarded.” —Publishers Weekly “Combine Lucinda Berry’s deep understanding of the complexities of the human mind with her immense talent for storytelling and you have The Secrets of Us, an intense psychological thriller that kept my heart racing until the shocking, jaw-dropping conclusion. Bravo!” —T.R. Ragan, New York Times bestselling author “The Secrets of Us is an unputdownable page-turner with two compelling female protagonists that will keep readers on their toes. Fantastic!” —Cate Holahan, USA Today bestselling author of One Little Secret “Lucinda Berry’s The Secrets of Us is a tense psychological thriller that explores the dark corners of the mind and turns a mind can take when it harbors secret guilt. The interplay between sisters Krystal and Nichole and their hidden past is gradually revealed, and in the end, the plot twists keep coming. Right and wrong can be ambivalent, and this story explores all shades of gray, from their dysfunctional family to an old childhood friend to a husband who may or may not be too good to be true. Berry’s background as a clinical psychologist shines in this novel with a character so disturbed they spend time in seclusion lockdown at a psychiatric ward. Don’t miss this one!” —Debbie Herbert, USA Today and Amazon Charts bestselling author “The Secrets of Us is an utterly gripping, raw, and heartbreaking story of two sisters. Berry’s flawlessly placed clues and psychological expertise grab you from the first word, not letting go until the last. Compelling, intricate, and shocking, this inventive thriller cleverly weaves from past to present with stunning precision. I was absolutely enthralled.” —Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 national bestselling author of Woman on the Edge “The past and present collide with explosive consequences in OTHER TITLES BY LUCINDA BERRY Under Her Care The Secrets of Us The Best of Friends When She Returned The Perfect Child This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Text copyright © 2023 by Heather Berry All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher. Published by Thomas & Mercer, Seattle www.apub.com Amazon, the Amazon logo, and Thomas & Mercer are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates. ISBN-13: 9781662506208 ISBN-10: 1662506201 Cover design by Damon Freeman To Amber Rae. Once upon a time, we drove around a lake, and I’ve been writing this story ever since. CONTENTS PROLOGUE CASE #72946 PATIENT: JULIET (JULES) HART ONE AMBER GREER CASE #72946 PATIENT: JULIET (JULES) HART TWO AMBER GREER CASE #72946 PATIENT: JULIET (JULES) HART THREE AMBER GREER CASE #72946 PATIENT: JULIET (JULES) HART FOUR AMBER GREER FIVE AMBER GREER CASE #72946 PATIENT: JULIET (JULES) HART SIX AMBER GREER CASE #72946 PATIENT: JULIET (JULES) HART SEVEN AMBER GREER CASE #72946 PATIENT: JULIET (JULES) HART EIGHT AMBER GREER NINE AMBER GREER CASE #72946 PATIENT: JULIET (JULES) HART TEN AMBER GREER ELEVEN AMBER GREER TWELVE AMBER GREER CASE #72946 PATIENT: JULIET (JULES) HART THIRTEEN AMBER GREER CASE #72946 PATIENT: JULIET (JULES) HART CASE #72946 PATIENT: JULIET (JULES) HART FOURTEEN AMBER GREER CASE #72946 PATIENT: JULIET (JULES) HART FIFTEEN AMBER GREER CASE #72946 PATIENT: JULIET (JULES) HART SIXTEEN AMBER GREER SEVENTEEN AMBER GREER CASE #72946 PATIENT: JULIET (JULES) HART EIGHTEEN AMBER GREER NINETEEN AMBER GREER TWENTY AMBER GREER