A Thin Film of Lies

A mysterious narrator details the death of a young woman named Libby Denham as she is run down by a speeding car while crossing a street in suburban Los Angeles. Police are notified by an anonymous caller that this was indeed no accident - Libby was murdered. The trail leads purposefully to MIKE JEPSON, a successful businessman and devoted husband. Jepson, who enjoys a lifestyle of comfort and predictability, is about to have his marriage, business, and sanity destroyed by someone with a deadly agenda.

Jepson admits to the interrogating police he had a brief business encounter with Libby, but nothing more. The investigation is headed by FRAN ANDERS, a homicide detective who wants to believe in Jepson's innocence, but in the days that follow, evidence accumulates to implicate Jepson most pointedly. ALISA, Mike's wife, receives accusing letters from Libby, mailed the day of her death, detailing a lurid affair with Mike. Alisa fears to confront her husband and hides the letters. Their relationship starts to unravel from the resultant suspicion and secrecy.

As the investigation heats up, details about Mike's marriage, business, and friendships come to the fore, all building a strong case against him. His mug with his fingerprints is found in Libby's car, along with strands of his hair, which incriminate him even further. Mike protests he is being set up, but he cannot provide an alibi nor name his nemesis. As he frantically searches for clues to the mysterious perpetrator behind this frame-up, the police close in. No one will believe his plea of innocence, and helplessness engulfs him. He sinks into despair.

By the time Jepson is arrested for murder, his wife and best friend have abandoned him. His lawyer paints a grim picture of incarceration, spurring Jepson to find a private investigator to help exonerate him. Through the PI's diligence, Mike finally learns who has done this to him—a former disgruntled employee who only worked for him for a few weeks. The PI searches for Mike's enemy, but the villain is elusive and has plans to finish what has been started—which is nothing less than invading Jepson's home in order hurt Mike's wife.

During Mike's incarceration, Alisa finds solace in her new "best friend," a parent named DEEDEE whose child attends the preschool where Alisa teaches. When Deedee is seemingly forced out of her apartment, Alisa gladly invites her over. Tension mounts as this "friend" starts to control Alisa, imprisoning and drugging her to keep her passive. Alisa discovers the truth of her friend's identity the morning of Mike's hearing, but her houseguest is one step ahead of her. Alisa tries to flee but is attacked and left for dead. The perpetrator of all their suffering now leaves for the courthouse, excitedly anticipating a charge of guilty to be thrown at Jepson.

Jepson, on trial, realizes his wife is in danger and is unable to warn her. When she fails to appear at his hearing, he grows panicky. The charges against him are dropped, but when he catches a glimpse of his former employee in the back of the courtroom, all the pieces fit together for him in a horrifying realization. The story comes full circle as Jepson then chases his enemy into the courthouse parking lot. He must choose between her destruction and his own. Finally, in his anger, he kills her with his car in a sequence similar to the opening scene of the book. And Jepson ends up arrested for the very crime for which he had just been exonerated.