Book detail

WINNER OF THE 2011 ANTHONY AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL & THE CRIMESPREE AWARD

Lily Moore, a successful travel writer, fled to Spain to get away from her troubled, drug-addicted younger sister, Claudia. But when Claudia is found dead in a bathtub on the anniversary of their mother’s suicide, Lily must return to New York to deal with the aftermath. The situation shifts from tragic to baffling when the body at the morgue turns out to be a stranger’s. The dead woman had been using Claudia’s identity for months. The real Claudia had vanished, reappearing briefly on the day her impostor died. As Claudia transforms from victim to suspect in the eyes of the police, Lily becomes determined to find her before they do. Is Claudia actually missing, or is she playing an elaborate con game? And who’s responsible for the body that was found in the bathtub? An obsessive ex-lover? An emotionally disturbed young man with a rich and powerful father? Or Lily’s own former fiancé, who turns out to be more deeply involved with Claudia than he admits? As Lily gets closer to the truth, a shadowy figure stalks her and the danger to her grows. Determined to learn the truth at any cost, she is unprepared for the terrible toll it will take on her and those she loves.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY ON THE DAMAGE DONE:

“In Davidson’s razor sharp mystery debut, travel journalist Lily Moore, who’s been living in Spain, rushes home to Manhattan’s Lower East Side on learning that her younger sister, Claudia, a recovering heroin addict, has apparently drowned in her bathtub on the anniversary of their mother’s suicide. The corpse in the morgue, however, is that of a stranger who’d been posing as Claudia for months. So where’s Claudia? An increasingly frantic Lily launches her private investigation while NYPD detectives Norah Renfrew and hunky “Brux” Bruxton oversee the official one. As Lily dodges the amorous attentions of Martin Sklar, her wealthy ex-boyfriend, who she suspects might’ve had a secret affair with Claudia, she discovers Claudia’s connection to a recently deceased “pseudopsychologist” who had a habit of getting too involved with his female patients. Davidson, herself a travel journalist (Frommer’s Toronto 2010), offers a great portrait of sisterly love, despite a dysfunctional past, as well as a highly satisfying mystery.”

MORE PRAISE FOR THE DAMAGE DONE:

“Hilary Davidson makes a stunning debut with THE DAMAGE DONE. It’s a smart crime novel, peopled with sinister characters and clever twists you won’t see coming. Davidson grabs you by the throat with her opening, and doesn’t let go till the end.” — Linda Fairstein, New York Times bestselling author of Hell Gate and Lethal Legacy

“Travel journalist Davidson has written an intriguing psychological mystery with a fully drawn protagonist who is surrounded by real characters who either care for her or who want her to fit their idea of who she should be. Readers will eagerly await Davidson's next book.” — Library Journal

“One of the best debuts I’ve read in years... Davidson does an outstanding job of building suspense and creating tension. I can’t wait to read the next book.” — Crimespree Magazine

“Hilary Davidson is one to watch.” — The Globe & Mail

“A twisty, compelling mystery.” — Manhattan User’s Guide

“A powerful crime novel… but it's so much more. It's the story of all the damage done in family relationships, including the damage done by addiction. Davidson's given us a profound story that shows the depth, the pain, and the collateral damage caused by addiction, problems that extend far beyond the person with the addiction...” — Lesa Holstine, Lesa’s Book Critiques

“Hitchcock with grit. A tight, well-told thriller with fully developed characters and true emotion.” — Scott Montgomery, BookPeople (Austin, TX)

“A murder mystery so complex, it’ll have you asking “whodunit?” right up until the last page.” — University of Toronto Magazine

“It may be a crime novel, but The Damage Done is as much about family ties, relationships and the pressure of change. Hopefully it's the first of many from Davidson.” — Carolyn Cooke, Surrey Now

“Oh, what a deliciously tangled web of circumstances does author Hilary Davidson weave in her masterful debut, The Damage Done... it almost defies belief that this is Davidson’s first novel.” — Savannah Morning News

“A tale of nonstop action with a nice final twist. An entertaining and promising crime-fiction debut.” — Booklist

“Exciting, engaging and all around exceptional” — Jen Forbus

“Not only is this the best debut I've read in a while, this is the best book I've read in a long time.” — Steve Weddle, editor of Needle: A Magazine of Noir

“In a world of popcorn thrillers, The Damage Done is a five-course meal. At once dark, brainy, and propulsive, but with the guts and heart to match, it announces Hilary Davidson as a major player in the future of crime fiction.” — Chris F. Holm, author of Dead Harvest

“A nifty novel about some seriously mistaken identity, a wealthy entrepreneur used to getting his own way, a good cop with bad people skills and a protagonist torn by her family’s history.” — Charlie Stella, author of Johnny Porno