Book ~ "He Will Be My Ruin" (2016) K.A. Tucker

From Goodreads ~ Twenty-eight-year-old Maggie Sparkes arrives in New York City to pack up what’s left of her best friend’s belongings after a suicide that has left everyone stunned. The police have deemed the evidence conclusive: Celine got into bed, downed a bottle of Xanax and a handle of Maker’s Mark, and never woke up. 

But when Maggie discovers secrets in the childhood lock box hidden in Celine’s apartment, she begins asking questions. Questions about the man Celine fell in love with. The man she never told anyone about, not even Maggie. The man who Celine herself claimed would be her ruin. 

On the hunt for answers that will force the police to reopen the case, Maggie uncovers more than she bargained for about Celine’s private life - and inadvertently puts herself on the radar of a killer who will stop at nothing to keep his crimes undiscovered. 

Maggie's best friend. Celine, lived in New York and had recently committed suicide.  Rosa, Celine's mother, lives in San Diego, and is in remission battling cancer.  She can't handle packing up Celine's things so Maggie agrees to do it and moves into Celine's apartment.  Celine worked in an office and was an aspiring antique collector.  Though she lived in a small apartment, she had accumulated a lot of stuff.  Rosa tells Maggie to sell everything and start a foundation in her daughter's name.

Maggie finds it hard to believe that Celine would kill herself.  She hires a private detective to investigate after the police tell her it's been deemed a suicide.  Maggie wants to know the truth and realizes that there was a lot about Celine's life that she didn't know.  She discovers that Celine was in love with a wealthy investment advisor named Jace and Maggie tries to get close to him to see what he knows.  Living in Celine's apartment, she becomes friends with Ruby, Celine's elderly neighbour, and Grady, the super of the building.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.  I liked the writing style.  It's written in first person perspective in Maggie's voice in the present and Celine's voice in the past (the chapters are labeled so it's obvious).  As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

I liked the characters.  Despite the physical distance and monetary difference, Maggie and Celine were good friends and Maggie would have done anything for Celine had she asked.  Even after Celine's death and Maggie learned more about her friend, she never gave up wanting to know the truth.  Ruth was a fun nosy neighbour and Grady provided laidback support.  Doug, the private detective, and Zac, his computer hacking assistant, provided a bit of humour.

I look forward to reading more books by this author.