It's every parent's worst nightmare.

In only a few months, the small town of Hagen has lost two high school seniors, both under strange circumstances. When a third senior, the mayor's son, drives through the plate glass window of the town's diner and ends up in a coma, the deaths no longer seem unrelated accidents. The town is paralyzed with fear. The police can find no good explanation. Other students deny any knowledge of what's happening, but Detective Kylie Milliard is certain at least some are lying.

Hagen's sole investigator, Kylie Milliard fears that something sinister is at play, but she can't convince the town's powers that be to take her concerns seriously. Mounting discord between herself and Hagen's sheriff have her thinking that it may be time to leave Hagen for a bigger city and a new job, but she's not going anywhere until she determines the connection between the self-destructive act of the mayor's son and the two untimely deaths.

Whoever is behind the dangerous stunts doesn't want to be discovered. To keep their secret, they're willing to take out anyone who gets too close. With time running out before the next stunt, Kylie is in a race to solve the puzzle. She is all too clear that, until she does, no one—not the students, nor the town—is safe from danger.

"Danielle Girard is a phenomenal writer. In Up Close , her insightful and compulsively readable new novel, she creates a vivid portrait of a tight-knit small town grappling with a series of teenage deaths. Accidents or murder? Girard keeps you guessing until the final, breathtaking twist."
— Jillian Medoff , author of When We Were Bright and Beautiful

"In this complicated kaleidoscope of a story, Girard effortlessly ratchets up the tension page by page until the shocking ending. Up Close's nightmarish premise is executed flawlessly. This thrilling tale from one of our best suspense writers will keep you up late into the night. Highly recommended."
— J.T. Ellison, NYT Bestselling author of It's One of Us

"Danielle Girard's finely honed talents are on full display in her latest thriller, which marks the return of canny Detective Kylie Milliard and peels back layers of secrets to reveal a sinister puzzle that's too close to home. A vivid and emotional white-knuckle read."
— Tessa Wegert , author of The Kind to Kill

"Atmospheric and suspenseful, Up Close is littered with jaw dropping moments throughout. Girard delivers another relentless thriller that will have you at the edge of your seat. Satisfying and poignant."
— Jaime Lynn Hendricks , bestselling author of Finding Tessa

"Hallelujah—Detective Kylie Milliard and the folks of Hagen, North Dakota, are back! The propulsive plot of Up Close will keep you turning pages late into the night while the deftly-drawn characters will make your heart ache. Danielle Girard is at the top of her game."
— Jess Lourey , Edgar-nominated author of The Quarry Girls "Up Close [is] an edge-of-your seat puzzle of a thriller by the supremely talented Danielle Girard. With its tightly interlocking jigsaw of motives, secrets, and lies, Up Close will keep you turning pages late into the night... A stellar read!
- Deborah Goodrich Royce , nationally bestselling and award-winning author of Reef Road, Ruby Falls, and Finding Mrs. Ford

"Danielle Girard excels at creating complex characters with intricate relationships who enthrall while leading us on a gripping, suspenseful journey to the truth. As the threads come together with pulse-pounding reveals, I could not step away from this book for a second. A nail-biting read!"
- Samantha M. Bailey , USA TODAY and #1 national bestselling author of Woman on the Edge and Watch Out for Her