Los Angeles, California – Present Day

For over a year, Polly, Kat, Charlotte, Dinah, Justine, and Ginger have met every Monday in a therapy group. Each woman brings her own baggage to be worked through, including issues with spouses, children, careers, and self-image, but it is Ginger who faces a unique set of circumstances. Terribly neglected by her wealthy, workaholic husband, Ginger confessed to the group that she fills her time as a high-priced call girl. While her revelation is initially shocking, the other members never judge Ginger. In fact, the six different women have formed a close-knit bond, so when Ginger is found dead at an exclusive men’s club, Polly, Kat, Charlotte, Dinah, and Justine are truly shaken-up. They are also suspicious. They’re quite sure they know why Ginger would visit such a place, but the question is what went wrong? When it becomes evident that there will be no formal investigation into Ginger’s death, her friends decide to conduct one themselves. For Ginger’s sake, they are determined to bring down the rich, powerful men, who they know are behind the crime.

At this point, readers may think WHAT GOES AROUND is a murder mystery, but very early on in the story Polly, Kat, Charlotte, Dinah, and Justine uncover the three powerful men responsible for Ginger’s death. What follows is the women’s quest to avenge their friend. These ordinary women become detectives and plotters determined, not to expose the men as murderers, but to strike each man where it would cause the most damage, whether it is his public image, wealth, or power, and strip it from him. Along this road that they have set for themselves, the women encounter obstacles that cause them to grow closer to each other. WHAT GOES AROUND is really a story about the supportive friendship among Polly, Kat, Charlotte, Dinah, AND Justine, but the author goes a step further and provides each of the five women with a unique journey to self-discovery. The point of view is constantly changing among the five, giving readers glimpses into each one’s personal life away from their group so as to ensure that they all become multi-dimensional characters.

WHAT GOES AROUND offers readers a very detailed story about friendship and revenge, but only teases readers with what could have been a captivating murder drama. Still, it amuses with its sly commentaries on everything from plastic surgery to politics to public schools, and it’s a tale that I think female readers will appreciate for the intelligent characters and perhaps relate to for the strong focus on relationships.

Sandra Brill