The Incompletes

Author Linda Smolkin returns with her most thought-provoking story yet-filled with moral dilemmas, unexpected discoveries, and a dash of rock-n-roll and suspense.

A drummer girl. A list of names. A quest for justice.

Emma Meade, an ex-drummer mourning the loss of her brother, discovers an abandoned drum set in her new home. Thinking it’s a sign to play again, she picks up the sticks and hits the snare. Instead of a satisfying clang, there’s an unexpected rattling. Hidden inside is a note with eight names. All are crossed off but one.

Obsessed with the note, Emma learns they’re all criminals who evaded punishment. The last, unchecked one has taken on a new identity and owns a nearby venue. Drumming up vengeance may not be good for the soul, but for Emma, it might be the only option. After joining a band, she convinces them to play at the venue and concocts a daring scheme. As Emma weighs getting caught against getting justice, she must decide whether an evil person deserves to die, and whether she the strength to dole out that justice.

The Incompletes is the fourth novel by author Linda Smolkin whose debut, Among the Branded, was called a “beautiful and fascinating novel that will keep readers hooked” by San Francisco Book Review.