"Bokat is an evocative wordsmith . . . she has crafted a sympathetic heroine as her main character . . . . A compulsively readable mystery and character study." The verdict: Get it.
— Kirkus Reviews
The Happiness Thief
"So, so smart, and as downright dangerous a read as the edge of a razor, Bokat's book is a masterful study of memory, family, and the lies that derail us. Don't even dare to think you'll get any sleep once you start reading."
―Caroline Leavitt, New York Times best-selling author of
Pictures of You and With or Without You
"Ulterior motives and shocking reveals abound, making for an anxious read that domestic suspense fans will be tempted to devour in a single sitting"
―Mystery Scene Magazine
“Nicole Bokat has the rare and precious gift of being both a master storyteller and an elegant poet. Each and every sentence dazzles in this intelligent and fiery tale about family, loss, and what it means to feel happy, whole.”
―Judy Batalion, New York Times best-selling author of The Light of Days
The Happiness Thief
A 2021 Foreword Indie Awards Finalist
Forty-one year-old Natalie Greene still believes she might have caused the car crash that killed her mother decades ago. But did she? Her memories are buried beneath a deep trauma, which still ripples through her life and recently ruined her marriage. Now, haunted and weary, she’s a single parent struggling to support herself as a freelance food photographer.
Once again, Natalie’s beloved stepsister, Isabel, comes to the rescue, suggesting that Natalie join her on a business trip to the Cayman Islands. Isabel, who has a thriving business as a happiness guru, will lecture at an annual industry conference; Natalie will unwind—and maybe discover a nugget of healing wisdom.
But one evening during their visit, Natalie is spooked when she strikes something—or someone—on a desolate street while driving Isabel back to their hotel. Why is there blood on the bumper? They find nothing on the road, but it triggers Natalie’s PTSD and revives her old fears. When she later receives an anonymous email hinting at foul play, Natalie decides to investigate on her own, with help from an attractive Boston Globe journalist. But looking into the island accident also sparks a trip down a foggy, frightening memory lane, exposing dark secrets and chilling revelations.
A 2021 Foreword Indie Awards Finalist
Forty-one year-old Natalie Greene still believes she might have caused the car crash that killed her mother decades ago. But did she? Her memories are buried beneath a deep trauma, which still ripples through her life and recently ruined her marriage. Now, haunted and weary, she’s a single parent struggling to support herself as a freelance food photographer.
Once again, Natalie’s beloved stepsister, Isabel, comes to the rescue, suggesting that Natalie join her on a business trip to the Cayman Islands. Isabel, who has a thriving business as a happiness guru, will lecture at an annual industry conference; Natalie will unwind—and maybe discover a nugget of healing wisdom.
But one evening during their visit, Natalie is spooked when she strikes something—or someone—on a desolate street while driving Isabel back to their hotel. Why is there blood on the bumper? They find nothing on the road, but it triggers Natalie’s PTSD and revives her old fears. When she later receives an anonymous email hinting at foul play, Natalie decides to investigate on her own, with help from an attractive Boston Globe journalist. But looking into the island accident also sparks a trip down a foggy, frightening memory lane, exposing dark secrets and chilling revelations.
Praise and Press:
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Kirkus Reviews"Bokat is an evocative wordsmith . . . she has crafted a sympathetic heroine as her main character . . . . A compulsively readable mystery and character study." The verdict: Get it.
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Mystery Scene Magazine"Evocatively written and ferociously paced, Bokat’s latest is a puzzle-box wrapped in a paranoia tale that rivets while exploring the complexities of grief, the anxieties of modern life, and the lasting harm of childhood trauma. Ulterior motives and shocking reveals abound, making for an anxious read that domestic suspense fans will be tempted to devour in a single sitting."
— Katrina Niidas Holm
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Caroline Leavitt, New York Times best-selling author of Pictures of You and With or Without You“So, so smart, and as downright dangerous a read as the edge of a razor, Bokat’s book is a masterful study of memory, family, and the lies that derail us. Don’t even dare to think you’ll get any sleep once you start reading.”
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Judy Batalion, New York Times best-selling author of The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler’s Ghettos“Nicole Bokat has the rare and precious gift of being both a master storyteller and an elegant poet. Each and every sentence dazzles in this intelligent and fiery tale about family, loss, and what it means to feel happy, whole.”
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Tess Callahan, author of April and Oliver"Sharp, quick-witted, with twists you can’t foresee, Bokat’s smart new thriller is like a cyanide pill wrapped in chocolate truffle—dangerous but irresistible. The Happiness Thief will swallow you whole."
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Aspen Matis, #1 Amazon best-selling author of Your Blue Is Not My Blue and Girl in the Woods"The Happiness Thief is a beautifully written, heart-thundering page-turner. I tore through it, desperate to discover answers. The novel’s characters are as rich and complex as you and I.”
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jayme_reads"So, holy wow, this book snuck up on me and I wasn’t expecting it! The first line starts with I Think I Killed My Mother! Yeah, the rest is just omg! You have to read this slow burn, family suspense that will have you on your toes the entire time! The dual timeline and relationship between mother and daughter really worked in this one! Five stars 🌟"
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rajivsreviewsThe Happiness Thief … is a psychological mystery thriller about a woman who doesn’t remember if she committed the crime of killing her mother, and it was a fun read!
What an elegant twist in the book! Firstly, the storyline is pretty intense, where we have Natalie trying to figure out the reason for her mother’s death years back. As if that’s not enough, she also starts receiving creepy text messages about the incident. The author paces the story in a suspenseful yet classy manner where you have no idea whom to trust. At a certain point, I felt like everyone in Natalie’s life was possibly suspect, including Natalie. -
shejustlovesbooksWhat an awesome mystery! I really didn’t want to put this one down.
The Happiness Thief has a main character with PTSD from a car crash where she lost her mother. Years later, she seems to take hit after hit when her husband leaves her, and then survives another crash. These losses are pretty emotional, and I liked how the author was able to bring so much emotion into the story and also bring the mystery to the plot!
I loved how the plot took some pretty crazy turns that I didn’t see coming. The plot had a bit of a slow-burn, and then as the secrets are revealed, the story sped up to a crazy pace! I thought it was a clever story, and I really enjoyed it! -
Amy Wilhelm, BookClubBabble.com
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Dru's Book Musings
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The Chapters and Brews Book Club of Minnesota recommends The Happiness Thief
“This mystery was a good fit for our group. A pageturner, it kept us guessing until the end. We had some great discussions about some of the secondary characters and their roles in the story." -
Hasty Book List
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Montclair Magazine
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Nerd Daily
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Psychology Today
