Plain Truth - Hardcover

Picoult, Jodi

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0743275012 ISBN 13: 9780743275019

Publisher: Atria Books, 2004

Synopsis

Jodi Picoult has touched readers deeply with her acclaimed novels, such as Keeping Faith and The Pact. Gifted with "a remarkable ability to make us share her characters' feelings" (People), Picoult now explores the complex choices of the heart for a young Amish woman -- the compelling journey of discovery for an urban lawyer who befriends and protects her.

The small town of Paradise, Pennsylvania, is a jewel in Lancaster County -- known for its picture-postcard landscapes and bucolic lifestyle. But that peace is shattered by the discovery of a dead infant in the barn of an Amish farmer. A police investigation quickly leads to two startling disclosures: the newborn's mother is an unmarried Amish woman, eighteen-year-old Katie Fisher. And the infant did not die of natural causes. Although Katie denies the medical proof that she gave birth to the child, circumstantial evidence leads to her arrest for the murder of her baby.

One hundred miles away, Philadelphia defense attorney Ellie Hathaway has achieved an enviable, high-profile career. But her latest court "victory" has set the sands shifting beneath her. Single at thirty-nine and unsatisfied with her relationship, Ellie doesn't look back when she turns down her chance to make partner and takes off for an open-ended stay at her great-aunt's home in Paradise.

Fate brings her to Katie Fisher. Suddenly, Ellie sees the chance to defend a client who truly needs her, not just one who can afford her. But taking on this case challenges Ellie in more ways than one. She finds herself not only in a clash of wills with a client who does not want to be defended but also in a clash of cultures with a people whose channels of justice are markedly different from her own.

Immersing herself in Katie Fisher's life -- and in a world founded on faith, humility, duty, and honesty -- Ellie begins to understand the pressures and sacrifices of those who to live "plain." As she peels away the layers of fact and fantasy, Ellie calls on an old friend for guidance. Now, just as this man from Ellie's past reenters her life, she must uncover the truth about a complex case, a tragic loss, the bonds of love -- and her own deepest fears and desires.

Moving seamlessly from psychological drama to courtroom suspense, Plain Truth is a triumph of contemporary storytelling. Jodi Picoult presents a fascinating portrait of Amish life rarely witnessed by those outside the faith -- and discovers a place where circumstances are not always what they seem, where love meets falsehood, and where relationships grow strong enough to span two worlds.

About this title

Review

Picoult's appreciation of teen angst is exquisitely unwrapped . . . and on this form she is going to leave her readers impatient for more. (Scotsman)

A suspenseful, richly layered drama . . . never loses its grip. The research is convincing, the plotting taught, the scenes wonderfully vivid . . . [An] absorbing, multidimensional portrait of an Amish clan (People)

Impossible to put down (Observer)

This is Picoult's greatest strength; her ability to inhabit other people's feelings, relishing the bits that are complex and contradictory . . . She is a master of her craft. (Sunday Telegraph)

[H]er vivid characters have a depth and tenacity rarely found in blockbusters. Strong narrative control, a lack of sentimentality and robust but undogmatic research mark her out - as does her proven ability (Independent on Sunday)

Book Description

A new early export edition from the internationally bestselling author, Jodi Picoult

About this edition

• Publisher: Atria Books
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0743275012
• ISBN 13: 9780743275019
• Binding: Hardcover