California, 2017. Two strangers cross paths, but not for the first or last time. In the aftermath of a disputed adoption, Suzanne, an enigmatic college senior, approaches an early-career psychologist, Dan Tunbridge. Drawn together by unresolved feelings about the case, the two struggle with suspicions and conflicted wishes. Their halting trust leads to a startling choice. As Dan and Suzanne's actions ripple and touch other people, impulses and mistakes send events swirling out of control. Secrets unravel, endangering a young girl and leading to a white-knuckle race along the Big Sur coast as wildfires rage. IN THE CASE OF BABY GIRL V. pulses with psychological suspense, escalating to a riveting climax and final scenes of upended lives. This fast-moving story reveals the intense pull of attachment bonds and the unforeseen outcomes of attraction between two yearning hearts.