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PEOPLE MAGAZINE

When a fourth-grader with a learning disability is found dead in the woods in this taut novel, the only witness appears to be 9-year-old Adam, who is autistic. In the face of questioning by police and specialists, the boy shuts down. But with the help of his fiercely devoted mother, Cara, and a savvy detective whose nephew is autistic, Adam slowly parts with clues that lead them to the killer. McGovern, whose own son suffers from autism has crafted an airtight thriller that illuminates the exhausting, isolating realities of parenting special-needs children. The movie rights to Eye Contact have been optioned by Julia Roberts, and it's easy to picture the actress as the tireless Cara; she's sure to savor the emotional intensity that McGovern has bestowed on her remarkable heroine.

Three and a half stars (out of four)