Publication Date: February 21, 2023
Everybody lies. Even the ones you think you know best of all . . .
Olivia Bender designs exquisite home interiors that satisfy the most demanding clients. But her own deepest desire can’t be fulfilled by marble counters or the perfect rug. She desperately wants to be a mother. Fertility treatments and IVF keep failing. And just when she feels she’s at her lowest point, the police deliver shocking news to Olivia and her husband, Park.
DNA results show that the prime suspect in a murder investigation is Park’s son. Olivia is relieved, knowing this is a mistake. Despite their desire, the Benders don’t have any children. Then comes the confession. Many years ago, Park donated sperm to a clinic. He has no idea how many times it was sold—or how many children he has sired.
As the murder investigation goes deeper, more terrible truths come to light. With every revelation, Olivia must face the unthinkable. The man she married has fathered a killer. But can she hold that against him when she keeps such dark secrets of her own?
This twisting, emotionally layered thriller explores the lies we tell to keep a marriage together—or break each other apart . . .
Olivia Bender’s desperation to have a child has reached an all-time high with her latest miscarriage. The news that her husband’s DNA via his son has been linked to a murder case causes immediate explosions within their marriage.
Park Bender claims he has no son…before remembering the time he donated sperm at a clinic. Author J.T. Ellison lays the foundation for a twisty tale of suspense with It’s One of Us.
The writing style is quite sophisticated, using alternating chapters to focus on key characters. This approach provides an interesting contrast between Olivia and Park, especially once it becomes evident that he has fathered multiple children.
Olivia’s character has her own secrets, but she struggles to rationalize whether she wants to have a child with the father of a murderer. It’s a storyline with far-reaching consequences, including the offspring and their families.
By far one of the best-written books I’ve read lately, It’s One of Us unveils layers of secrets that threaten to separate Olivia and Park forever.
J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award-winning co-host of the literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. She also writes urban fantasy under the pen name Joss Walker. With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, been optioned for television, and has been published in 28 countries. J.T. lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens, where she is hard at work on her next novel.
