Buried Secrets In Mary Louise Kelly's New Novel, 'The Bullet'

Most of us have a story to tell about who we are. It might include where we're from, where we grew up, who our parents are — or were. But imagine if, at the age of 37, everything you thought you knew about your background turned out not to be true.

That's the premise of Mary Louise Kelly's new thriller, "The Bullet." Her heroine is Caroline Cashion, a quiet professor of French literature who enjoys spending time with her parents and brothers. Then, one day, an MRI reveals she has a bullet lodged near the base of her skull. How did it get there?

Caroline has no idea. Her search for answers unearths a deep family secret in a tale of murder and vengeance and reveals aspects of her own character that she didn't even know existed.

Mary Louise Kelly will be reading from The Bullet Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Harvard Book Store in Cambridge.

Mary Louise Kelly, novelist and former NPR and BBC correspondent. Her new book is "The Bullet." She tweets @KellyMaryLouise.

Radio Boston: Mary Louise Kelly: Anonymous Sources