Frederick Van Patten

In the Clear: a Novel Frederick Van Patten

A government raid goes terribly wrong and a young mother is murdered. No one in Cressida's family is prepared for the consequences of that tragedy. Her lover, Simon, escapes into hiding and the couple's small daughter, Enid, is left in her grandmother's care.

Revenge becomes paramount for Simon's stepfather, Colin Humphrey, as he ruthlessly pursues a wrongful death lawsuit against the government. But the other members of her family struggle painfully to come to grips with their horrible loss. Cressida's aunts and uncles want to help but they find themselves paralyzed by the senseless killing. Finally, Cressida's two cousins, Valerie and Melody, set out on a mission to find Simon. But an unexpected stranger from Simon's past complicates the difficult work of repairing this damaged family.

Like a giant puzzle with its pieces hopelessly scattered, In The Clear tells the story of a family moving painfully, but inexorably toward healing.