I Never Knew You At All - cracks in a marriage start to appear when a family's possible connection to a decades-old crime emerges.

Simone Hartwell once aspired to a career in journalism. After her breakup with Kwame Walker, her ex-boyfriend from journalism school, Simone, a Black woman, found herself in the arms of Alex Hartwell, a white man and heir to his family's grocery store chain, run by his grandfather Larry "Poppy" Hartwell, who raised Alex. The couple married, had a son, and Simone's career dreams were seemingly stalled forever as she began living a life of privilege. Meanwhile, Kwame, now thriving as a journalist and podcaster, contacts Simone about a lead on a story. In the 1960s, Wade Freeman, a Black student at the prestigious Tate School, disappeared and was never found. Although it was officially deemed a drowning, Kwame is pursuing the belief that foul play was involved. The Tate School was also the alma mater of Poppy, who was suffering from early stages of dementia. Despite knowing that spending time with Kwame is ill-advised, Simone is determined to learn more about the circumstances of Wade's disappearance and whether Poppy could have been involved.

I Never Knew You At All is the third book co-written by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza. Together, they have successfully explored complex themes involving relationships and race. In this seamless collaboration, the authors delve into family loyalty, the importance of truth, and the risks associated with secrets. This engaging character-driven story raises challenging questions and offers no easy answers. It's a worthwhile read and would make a strong addition to book club lists for stimulating discussions. 

Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

Adult Fiction | Mystery.

Publication Date: October 13, 2026.

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