Description
*Instant National Bestseller
*Named a Most Anticipated Book by Goodreads, Frolic, and more
A gripping psychological suspense novel about a woman diagnosed with cancer who sets out to discover if someone tried to poison her before her time is up, from the bestselling author of the “addictive and fast-paced” (Mary Kubica, New York Times bestselling author) thriller You Can’t Catch Me.
Jennifer Barnes never expected the shocking news she received at a routine doctor’s appointment: she has a terminal brain tumor—and only six weeks left to live.
While stunned by the diagnosis, the forty-eight-year-old mother decides to spend what little time she has left with her family—her adult triplets and twin grandsons—close by her side. But when she realizes she was possibly poisoned a year earlier, she’s determined to discover who might have tried to get rid of her before she’s gone for good.
Separated from her husband and with a contentious divorce in progress, Jennifer focuses her suspicions on her soon-to-be ex. Meanwhile, her daughters are each processing the news differently. Calm medical student Emily is there for whatever Jennifer needs. Moody scientist Aline, who keeps her mother at arm’s length, nonetheless agrees to help with the investigation. Even imprudent Miranda, who has recently had to move back home, is being unusually solicitous.
But with her daughters doubting her campaign against their father, Jennifer can’t help but wonder if the poisoning is all in her head—or if there’s someone else who wanted her dead.
Contributor Notes
Catherine McKenzie was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. A graduate of McGill University in history and law, Catherine practiced law for twenty years before leaving to write full time. An avid runner, skier, and tennis player, she’s the author of numerous bestsellers including I’ll Never Tell and The Good Liar. Her works have been translated into multiple languages and I’ll Never Tell and Please Join Us have been optioned for development into television series. Visit her at CatherineMcKenzie.com or follow her on Twitter @CEMcKenzie1 or Instagram @CatherineMcKenzieAuthor.
Editorial Reviews
“McKenzie readily demonstrates what a deft storyteller she is. Suspicion reigns supreme in this twisted and sinister domestic suspense, and your allegiances are guaranteed to shift faster than a ping-pong match. Cleverly plotted and expertly paced, with an ending that’s sure to have you gasping out loud. Do yourself a favour and pop this on your 2021 reading list now.”
— HANNAH MARY McKINNON, bestselling author of Sister Dear
“An exceptional story that is darkly funny, poignant, and grippingly suspenseful. A fresh take on the who-done-it, this addictive novel will both tug at your heart strings and make you frantically flip the pages to unlock the key to the mystery. A mesmerizing read!”
— SAMANTHA M. BAILEY, #1 bestselling author of Woman on the Edge
“Just when you think you know what’s happening . . . there’s a new twist, a new piece of information, a new direction. Unpredictable and captivating, Six Weeks to Live had me mesmerized right up to the shocking end.”
— SAMANTHA DOWNING, bestselling author of My Lovely Wife and He Started It
“McKenzie is at her very best in Six Weeks to Live; it’s twisty as hell and impossible to put down. I was hooked from the first page to the spectacular ending. This was exactly the book I needed to read right now.”
— AMBER COWIE, author of Loss Lake
“Smart, engrossing, and richly emotional, Six Weeks to Live is a deep dive into the secrets and lies between a dying mother and her three daughters. Part whodunnit, part family drama, this textured and utterly spellbinding story unravels in surprising ways you won’t see coming. A heart-wrenching, complex story of death, regret, and the impact our pasts have on our future.”
— CHRISTINA McDONALD, USA Today bestselling author
“A subtle and unsettling novel about a family with secrets and a mother running out of time. A suspenseful story that will keep you reading past your bedtime.”
— KAIRA ROUDA, USA Today bestselling author of Best Day Ever
“Begins with a gut-punch of an opener: a poisoning with a fatal diagnosis, a woman with a mere six weeks to find the killer. Grief, secrets, revenge, guilt, and blame—McKenzie weaves them all together with a deft hand, turning up the heat with every chapter. A gripping page-turner that held me captive until the shocking end.
— KIMBERLY BELLE, bestselling author of The Stranger in the Lake and Dear Wife
“A twisty tale of secrets and lies that reverberate across generations of a dysfunctional family. Gripping and unputdownable.”
— MICHELE CAMPBELL, internationally bestselling author of The Wife Who Knew Too Much
“A smart, gripping, twisted story of dark family secrets. . . . will have readers feverishly turning pages until the final jaw-dropping conclusion.”
— ROBYN HARDING, #1 bestselling author of The Swap
“Every time I open the covers on a Catherine McKenzie novel, I know I’m in for a ride. Six Weeks to Live proves my theory right yet again. With its impeccable plotting and ticking clock, it is the best kind of domestic suspense—a story both heartbreaking and visceral, surprising yet inevitable. Jennifer and her triplets will shock you from start to finish.”
— JT ELLISON, New York Times bestselling author of Her Dark Lies and Good Girls Lie
“McKenzie works her magic again, combining harrowing domestic suspense with a razor-sharp crime thriller that had me riveted from page one. Hands down, my favorite book this year.”
— EMILY CARPENTER, bestselling author of Burying the Honeysuckle Girls and The Weight of Lies
“What if you had to solve your own murder? The brilliant Catherine McKenzie has crafted a twisty and toxic psychological deep dive into mother-daughter relationships, jealousy, obsession—and gaspingly surprising revenge. An irresistible story, compellingly told—and impossible to outwit. Loved this!”
— HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN, USA Today bestselling author of The First to Lie
“Begins with a devastating premise, then takes the reader on the most unexpected ride as a mother seeks to uncover the truth about the illness that is about to take her life. With skillful plotting and flawless narration, McKenzie weaves together past and present in this twisty, page-turning and, ultimately, heartbreaking novel. Thoroughly enjoyable!”
— WENDY WALKER, bestselling author of Don’t Look for Me
“Suspenseful . . . The complexities of the family and four women make for a solid story about mothers, children, and the sacrifices they’re called to make.”
— The Globe and Mail
