Prologue: Confession of Guilt

The story opens with a haunting letter from Columbia Jones to her daughter, admitting to a "very bad thing" she did long ago. She confesses that her life has been shaped by this secret, and that her public persona is a mask hiding deep guilt and shame. She warns that someone else knows the truth and may seek revenge, and pleads for understanding and forgiveness. This prologue sets the emotional tone, foreshadowing the unraveling of a life built on lies, and the devastating consequences that will follow when the truth is finally exposed.

The Queen Collapses

At the height of her fame, beloved author Columbia Jones collapses onstage during a book tour event in Denver. Her daughter Darian and journalist Riley Carrington, both traveling with her, are thrown into panic. The incident is witnessed by thousands, and Columbia is rushed to the hospital. The event marks the beginning of a downward spiral, as cracks in Columbia's carefully curated image begin to show. The collapse is not just physical, but symbolic of the secrets and pressures that have been building beneath the surface for years.

Secrets Behind the Curtain

In the aftermath of Columbia's collapse, Darian and Riley navigate the chaos backstage and at the hospital. Darian's relationship with her mother is strained, marked by both love and resentment. Riley, the chosen journalist, senses that Columbia's life is more complicated than her public persona suggests. A mysterious man's presence at the event unsettles Columbia, hinting at a past she cannot escape. The chapter explores the complex dynamics between mothers and daughters, fame and privacy, and the cost of living a double life.

A Death in Denver

The next morning, Riley discovers Columbia dead in her hotel suite, blood staining the sheets. Darian's grief turns to accusation, blaming Riley for her mother's death. The police are called, and Riley is detained as a suspect. The scene is chaotic, with media, fans, and Columbia's team all desperate for answers. The question of whether Columbia's death was natural, accidental, or murder becomes the central mystery, setting off a high-stakes investigation that will expose long-buried secrets.

The Investigation Begins

Detective Sutcliffe leads the investigation, interviewing Darian, Riley, and others close to Columbia. The autopsy is inconclusive, but the presence of blood and the lack of clear cause of death raise suspicions. A stalker is mentioned, and the hotel's security footage is found to be tampered with. Riley, desperate to clear her name, begins her own search for the truth, while Darian struggles with grief, guilt, and the burden of managing her mother's legacy. The investigation reveals the fragility of trust and the destructive power of secrets.

Mother, Daughter, Stranger

Flashbacks and confessions reveal Columbia's troubled past: a teenage marriage, domestic abuse, and a fateful night that ended in murder. The story she told Darian about her father's death is revealed to be a lie. Columbia's real history is one of survival, reinvention, and sacrifice. The narrative explores the psychological impact of trauma, the ways we rewrite our own stories, and the pain of discovering that those we love are not who we thought they were.

The Stalker Emerges

The mysterious man from the Denver event is identified as Knox Shepherd, a figure from Columbia's past with a criminal record. Simultaneously, a hacker named Liam Reeves infiltrates the group's digital lives, erasing evidence and sending threatening messages. The stalker's motives are unclear—revenge, money, or something more personal. The sense of danger escalates as Riley and Darian realize they are being watched, manipulated, and possibly targeted for murder themselves.

Blood and Betrayal

As the investigation deepens, more violence erupts: Riley's boyfriend Oliver is murdered, and attempts are made on Riley's life. The group is forced into hiding, seeking refuge on a private island. Paranoia grows as it becomes clear that the killer is someone with intimate knowledge of their lives. Old betrayals come to light, and the bonds between the women—Riley, Darian, and a newly discovered sister, Kira—are tested to the breaking point.

Legacy Unveiled

Through a combination of confessions, flashbacks, and the discovery of a hidden manuscript, the truth about Columbia's past is revealed. She was once Devon Mears, a woman who killed her abusive husband and let her lover take the blame. After serving time in prison, she reinvented herself as Columbia Jones, abandoning her children to adoption and building a new life on lies. The legacy she leaves is one of both literary greatness and personal devastation.

The Will and the Wives

Columbia's will is read, bringing together Riley, Darian, Kira, and Knox. The will reveals that all three women are Columbia's daughters, separated by adoption and lies. Each must confront the reality of their origins, the pain of abandonment, and the possibility of forgiveness. The reading of the will is both a reckoning and a chance for healing, as the sisters begin to forge new bonds in the aftermath of tragedy.

Sisters in the Shadows

Riley, Darian, and Kira struggle to process the revelations about their mother and themselves. Each grapples with questions of identity, loyalty, and the meaning of family. The sisters are united by trauma but divided by the choices Columbia made. As they work together to uncover the final pieces of the mystery, they must decide whether to embrace or reject the legacy left to them.

The Hacker's Game

The true villain is unmasked: Liam Reeves, a hacker with a personal vendetta, orchestrated the murders and chaos. His motivations are rooted in his own twisted connection to the family and a desire for revenge and recognition. The sisters, with the help of Detective Sutcliffe and their allies, confront Liam in a final, violent showdown. The confrontation is brutal and cathartic, forcing each character to face their deepest fears and regrets.

Truths and Revelations

In the aftermath of the confrontation, confessions are made—both on video and in person. Columbia's final message is played, in which she admits her crimes and begs for forgiveness. The sisters must decide how to move forward, balancing the need for justice with the possibility of healing. The truth, once revealed, cannot be undone, but it offers a chance for closure and new beginnings.

The Final Gathering

The sisters, Knox, and their loved ones gather to honor Columbia's memory and lay her to rest. The reading of the will, the sharing of stories, and the acknowledgment of pain and love mark the beginning of a new chapter. The family, once shattered by lies, begins to rebuild on a foundation of honesty and acceptance. The emotional arc comes full circle, from betrayal and loss to hope and connection.

The Last Confession

The video reveals the full extent of Columbia's guilt, her reasons for abandoning her children, and her hopes for their future. She asks for forgiveness, not just from her daughters, but from Knox and all those she hurt. The confession is both an act of courage and a final attempt to control her own narrative. It forces everyone to confront the complexity of love, redemption, and the human capacity for both good and evil.

Forgiveness and Farewell

The sisters scatter Columbia's ashes at sea, each expressing their own version of forgiveness or unresolved pain. The act is both symbolic and real—a letting go of the past and an embrace of the future. The family, now united by truth, begins to heal. The legacy of Columbia Jones is redefined, not by her lies, but by the strength and resilience of her daughters.

The Real Killer

In a chilling epilogue, it is revealed that Mason, Darian's lover, was complicit in the murders, manipulating events from the shadows. His motives are rooted in his own family history and a desire for revenge against Columbia. The revelation adds a final layer of complexity to the story, showing that evil can hide in plain sight, and that the search for truth is never truly over.

Epilogue: New Beginnings

Months later, the sisters gather for Darian's wedding, surrounded by new life and hope. The scars of the past remain, but they are tempered by love and the promise of a better future. The story ends with a sense of hard-won peace, as the family looks forward, determined to write their own stories—honestly, bravely, and together.

Characters

Columbia Jones / Devon Mears

Columbia is a world-famous author whose life is built on a foundation of lies, trauma, and survival. Born Devon Mears, she endured abuse, committed murder, and let her lover take the fall. After prison, she reinvented herself, abandoning her children and creating a new identity as Columbia Jones. Her psychological complexity is rooted in guilt, ambition, and a desperate need for control. She is both loving and manipulative, capable of great kindness and profound betrayal. Her relationship with her daughters is fraught, marked by both genuine love and the damage of her choices. In death, her final confession forces her family to confront the truth and seek forgiveness.

Darian Jones

Darian is Columbia's only acknowledged child, raised in the shadow of her mother's fame and secrets. She is fiercely loyal, competent, and driven, but also deeply wounded by her mother's emotional distance and manipulation. Darian's psychological journey is one of disillusionment and self-discovery, as she learns the truth about her origins and the existence of her sisters. Her relationship with Columbia is both loving and adversarial, and her arc is defined by the struggle to forgive and to claim her own identity apart from her mother's legacy.

Riley Carrington

Riley is a journalist chosen by Columbia to write her definitive profile. Adopted and haunted by her own family secrets, Riley is drawn to Columbia's story as both a professional challenge and a personal quest. Her psychological makeup is marked by curiosity, resilience, and a longing for belonging. As she uncovers the truth about Columbia—and her own connection to the family—Riley is forced to confront her deepest fears and desires. Her journey is one of transformation, from outsider to sister, from suspect to survivor.

Kira Hutchinson

Kira is one of Columbia's twin daughters, adopted and raised in Colorado, unaware of her true origins. She is nurturing, grounded, and devoted to her own family, embodying the stability and warmth that Columbia could never provide. Kira's discovery of her identity is both a shock and a liberation, allowing her to connect with her sisters and to understand the pain that shaped her life. Her psychological strength lies in her capacity for forgiveness and her ability to build new bonds from the ashes of the past.

Knox Shepherd

Knox is Columbia's former lover, wrongfully convicted of murder and imprisoned for years. His life is defined by sacrifice, loss, and a longing for redemption. Knox's relationship with Columbia is complex—marked by love, betrayal, and unresolved grief. He is both a victim and a hero, carrying the weight of Columbia's choices and his own. His arc is one of painful acceptance, as he seeks to reconnect with the daughters he never knew and to find peace after a lifetime of injustice.

Liam Reeves

Liam is the story's primary antagonist, a brilliant but damaged hacker with a personal vendetta against Columbia and her family. His psychological profile is marked by resentment, envy, and a desperate need for recognition. Liam's actions are driven by a twisted sense of justice and a desire to expose the truth at any cost. He manipulates, stalks, and ultimately kills, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. His character represents the dangers of unchecked obsession and the dark side of the digital age.

Mason Bader

Mason is Darian's lover and Columbia's bodyguard, initially presented as a source of safety and comfort. Beneath the surface, however, he harbors his own secrets and resentments, ultimately revealed as complicit in the murders. Mason's psychological complexity lies in his ability to compartmentalize, to present a facade of loyalty while pursuing his own agenda. His betrayal is the final twist, underscoring the theme that evil can hide in the most trusted places.

Detective Byron Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe is the lead detective on Columbia's case, driven by a commitment to justice and a personal connection to the past. He is methodical, empathetic, and unafraid to challenge assumptions. Sutcliffe's psychological strength is his ability to see through deception and to persist in the face of obstacles. His role is both as a catalyst for the truth and as a witness to the human cost of secrets and lies.

Victor Guul

Victor is Columbia's longtime lawyer and confidant, instrumental in helping her reinvent herself and protect her family. He is wise, compassionate, and burdened by the knowledge of Columbia's true past. Victor's psychological makeup is defined by loyalty and a sense of duty, but also by guilt for his role in perpetuating the lies. His presence is a stabilizing force, offering guidance and support to the sisters as they navigate the aftermath.

Nate Walsh

Nate is Riley's editor and former lover, providing both professional and personal support throughout the investigation. He is intelligent, resourceful, and deeply invested in Riley's well-being. Nate's psychological role is that of a caretaker and a moral compass, helping Riley to process trauma and to pursue the truth. His presence grounds the narrative, offering a counterpoint to the chaos and violence that threaten to consume the family.

Plot Devices

Dual Timelines and Confessions

The novel employs a dual timeline structure, alternating between the present-day investigation and flashbacks/confessions from Columbia's past. This device allows the reader to piece together the mystery alongside the characters, gradually uncovering the layers of deception. The use of letters, manuscripts, and video confessions provides direct access to Columbia's psyche, blurring the line between fiction and reality. The confessional mode heightens the emotional stakes and creates a sense of intimacy and urgency.

Unreliable Narration and Misdirection

The story is told through multiple points of view—Riley, Darian, Kira, Columbia, and others—each with their own biases and blind spots. This multiplicity of voices creates ambiguity and suspense, as the reader must navigate conflicting accounts and hidden motives. Misdirection is used to cast suspicion on various characters, including Riley, Darian, and Knox, before the true villain is revealed. The unreliable narration mirrors the theme of self-deception and the difficulty of knowing the truth.

The Will as Catalyst

Columbia's will serves as both a literal and symbolic catalyst, bringing together the estranged sisters and forcing the family to confront the past. The stipulation that the will cannot be read until Riley's article is published adds urgency and tension, while the gathering of beneficiaries creates a crucible for confession, forgiveness, and final reckoning. The will is both a legal document and a metaphor for the legacy of secrets and lies.

Digital Manipulation and Surveillance

The hacker subplot, with Liam Reeves manipulating digital evidence, erasing files, and stalking the characters online, reflects the dangers of the modern surveillance state. The tampering with security footage, the use of trackers, and the spread of misinformation online all serve to heighten paranoia and suspense. Technology is both a tool for uncovering the truth and a means of perpetuating deception and violence.

Family as Mystery

At its core, the novel is a family mystery, with questions of parentage, loyalty, and forgiveness at the heart of the plot. The search for identity—both personal and collective—drives the characters' actions and decisions. The revelation of hidden sisters, the confrontation with a mother's crimes, and the struggle to build new relationships from the wreckage of the past all serve to explore the psychological complexity of family bonds.

Analysis

A Very Bad Thing is a masterful psychological thriller that uses the framework of a murder mystery to explore the deep wounds and redemptive possibilities of family. At its heart, the novel is about the cost of secrets—how the lies we tell to protect ourselves and those we love can ultimately destroy us. Through the intertwined stories of Columbia Jones and her daughters, the book examines the ways trauma is inherited, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the possibility of healing even after profound betrayal. The narrative structure—shifting perspectives, confessions, and the gradual unveiling of the past—mirrors the psychological process of coming to terms with painful truths. The use of technology as both a tool for connection and a weapon of destruction reflects contemporary anxieties about privacy, surveillance, and the spread of misinformation. Ultimately, the novel suggests that while the truth can be devastating, it is also the only path to freedom and genuine connection. The final image of the sisters, united in grief and hope, offers a hard-won sense of closure and the possibility of new beginnings.

Last updated: December 23, 2025