Before I Say Good-bye is a murder mystery, a tautly plotted novel that relies on continuous suspense and intrigue for its success. As Clark insists in her interview with CNN Book Chat, "I want to keep the reader guessing until virtually the last page."

In order to prolong the suspense, Clark relies on a series of literary ploys that are the hallmark of the genre. Multiple sus pects, red herrings, cliffhangers, and missing information are all the tricks of the trade that Clark exploits as a means to conceal the secret around which the mystery revolves.

As in most murder mysteries, the murder happens within the first few chapters. Almost immediately, the novel begins its investigation by casting suspicion and uncovering motive, introducing multiple suspects in the process. The ensuing investigation uncovers Jed's experience with explosives, Peter's frustration with Adam for impeding his lucrative, but precarious, real-estate project...