"When You Find Me"

P. J. Vernon was born in South Carolina. He holds a PhD in immunology and published science before turning his hand to publishing fiction.

He applied the Page 69 Test to his new novel, When You Find Me, and reported the following:

Page 69, in its entirety:

sorry for the late call. You don’t know me. My name’s Annie. I’m calling—” The woman—Annie—paused. “I need to talk to you about Paul. I’ll be back in touch so keep your phone close.”

I held my breath.

“Something else—” A second, longer hesitation. “There’s something going on here you don’t know.”

When You Find Me nails the Page 69 Test.

It’s brief, suspenseful, and as far as representative page 69’s go—sticks the landing.

In this moment, one of two protagonists, Gray Godfrey, first connects with a mysterious woman calling herself Annie. Gray’s husband, Paul, has been missing for nearly twenty-four hours, and the police—led by Detective Nina Palmer—have just informed the family that his rental car was found abandoned on a desolate stretch of highway. Passenger door opened marsh-side.

As more time passes since Paul’s been seen in the flesh, Gray unravels. She’s nearly reached a breaking point when her phone finally lights up, shattering what’s been an excruciating silence thus far. But the voice on the other end of the line isn’t her missing husband. Or, in fact, anyone she recognizes. Gray was at a loss for answers before the voicemail, but the handful of words from Annie are merely the opening volley in a zero-sum game. One Gray will discover has been unfolding for decades.

Secrets are patient things. And on When You Find Me’s page 69, patience runs out.

Visit P. J. Vernon's website.

--Marshal Zeringue