Secrets of Eden - Softcover

Bohjalian, Chris

Softcover

ISBN 10: 184737834X ISBN 13: 9781847378347

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd, 2009

Synopsis

"There," says Alice Hayward to Reverend Stephen Drew, just after her baptism. Twelve hours later, she suffers a violent death at the hands of her husband who will kills shoots himself. But when the medical examiner autopsies the two bodies, what appeared to be a straightforward case of domestic abuse, turns out to be far more complex. Given the angle of the bullet and the amount of blood spattered around the room, he can only conclude that someone other than George Hayward fired the gun. Told through the eyes of four narrators, SECRETS OF EDEN is full of twists and turns, making you question the innocence of each character. Stephen Drew goes first and wins our trust as he draws us into his world, describing his shock at the violence that hit this small, sleepy town, and his sudden loss of faith which ultimately will make him flee. But Catherine Benincasa, the tough State Attorney, has her suspicions about Drew. Following is Heather Laurent, whose appearance in the town on the day after the killings is curious in itself; she is a bestselling author of national fame, far removed from this local community. And yet she herself lost her parents in similar circumstances and easily identifies with Alice's 15-year-old daughter, Katie, who was safely at a rock concert with her best friend the evening her parents died, well away from the killer's reach...

About this title

Review

A "Must-Read Book for Spring," "Today Show," Weekend Edition
IndieBound "Indie Next" pick, February 2010
"Superb. . . .Fans of Bohjalian's 11 other novels (including "Midwives") know to expect the unexpected and, thanks to his creativity and cunning, readers usually get walloped by one heck of a plot twist by book's end. In Secrets of Eden, the old saw that none of us knows what really goes on in a house when the shades are drawn rings chillingly true."
—Carol Memmott, "USA Today
"
"Superbly written - vivid and horrifying without being melodramatic....a tribute to Bohjalian's storytelling skill."
"—The Boston Globe
""Suspenseful. . .searing. . .Bohjalian has written a literary murder mystery that hooks readers early and keeps its secrets until the end. . .Bohjalian's book is about the power of secrets and sacrifice and a warning against jumping to judgment. Those who doubt their faith, he writes, are sometimes the strongest among us."
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A "Must-Read Book for Spring," "Today Show", Weekend Edition
IndieBound "Indie Next" pick, February 2010
"Superb. . . .Fans of Bohjalian's 11 other novels (including "Midwives") know to expect the unexpected and, thanks to his creativity and cunning, readers usually get walloped by one heck of a plot twist by book's end. In Secrets of Eden, the old saw that none of us knows what really goes on in a house when the shades are drawn rings chillingly true."
--Carol Memmott, "USA Today
"
"Superbly written - vivid and horrifying without being melodramatic....a tribute to Bohjalian's storytelling skill."
"--The Boston Globe
""Suspenseful. . .searing. . .Bohjalian has written a literary murder mystery that hooks readers early and keeps its secrets until the end. . .Bohjalian's book is about the power

A "Must-Read Book for Spring," "Today Show," Weekend Edition
IndieBound "Indie Next" pick, February 2010
"Superb. . . .Fans of Bohjalian's 11 other novels (including "Midwives") know to expect the unexpected and, thanks to his creativity and cunning, readers usually get walloped by one heck of a plot twist by book's end. In Secrets of Eden, the old saw that none of us knows what really goes on in a house when the shades are drawn rings chillingly true."
--Carol Memmott, "USA Today
"
"Superbly written - vivid and horrifying without being melodramatic....a tribute to Bohjalian's storytelling skill."
"--The Boston Globe
""Suspenseful. . .searing. . .Bohjalian has written a literary murder mystery that hooks readers early and keeps its secrets until the end. . .Bohjalian's book is about the power of secrets and sacrifice and a warning against jumping to judgment. Those who doubt their faith, he writes, are sometimes the strongest among us."
--Amy Driscoll, "The Miami Herald"
"Chris Bohjalian has always known how to keep the pages turning. In his latest novel, a small Vermont hamlet has been racked by a well-established couple's apparent murder-suicide. Bohjalian describes the aftermath of that ruinous night in varied voices, effortlessly slipping into the heads of the shaken local pastor, the no-nonsense deputy state attorney, and the best-selling author whose own past draws her to the scene of the crime. . .[A] study of guilt and grief."
"--Entertainment Weekly
""Page-turning. . .Bohjalian has a knack for creating nuanced, detailed first-person female characters. . .SECRETS OF EDEN speeds along pleasingly as both thriller and character study."
"--Seattle Times
""To call this fine novel a mystery would be like calling the Hallelujah Chorus a nice song. . .Bohjalian has written a gripping story that keeps the reader turning pages to find out what really happened...But there is so much more in this rich story. Bohjalian delves into the profound mysteries of human existence. What is faith? What is love? And who are really the angels among us?"
""--"Winston-Salem Journal
"[A] suspenseful page-turner...This book will entertain you with its suspense, but it will also make you think about how hurtful secrets can be."
"--Minneapolis Star-Tribune"
"
"Secrets are sprinkled throughout a Chris Bohjalian novel like loose change spilled from the pockets of a master storyteller. . .exquisite. . .magic is rediscovered in 'Secrets of Eden.'"
""--""Tom Mayer, "Lake City Reporter
"
"Bohjalian has built a reputation on his rich characters and immersing readers in diverse subjects--homeopathy, animal rights activism, midwifery--and his latest surely won't disappoint. The morning after her baptism into the Rev. Stephen Drew's Vermont Baptist church, Alice Hayward and her abusive husband are found dead in their home, an apparent murder-suicide. Stephen, the novel's first narrator, is so racked with guilt over his failure to save Alice that he leaves town. Soon, he meets Heather Laurent, the author of a book about angels whose own parents' marriage also ended in tragedy. Stephen's deeply sympathetic narration is challenged by the next two narrators: deputy state attorney Catherine Benincasa, whose suspicions are aroused initially by Stephen's abrupt departure (and then by questions about his relationship with Alice), and Heather, who distances herself from Stephen for similar reasons and risks the trip into her dark past by seeking out Katie, the Haywards' now-orphaned 15-year-old daughter who puts into play the final pieces of the puzzle, setting things up for a touching twist. Fans of Bohjalian's more exotic works will miss learning something new, but this is a masterfully human and compassionate tale."
"--Publishers Weekly, " starred and boxed review
Bohjalian "drops bombshell clues...and weaves subtle nuances of doubt and intrigue into a taut, read-in-one-sitting murder mystery."
"--Booklist," starred and boxed review
"Bohjalian's most splendid accomplishment to date. . .A fantastic choice for book clubs, this novel deals beautifully with controversial topics of domestic abuse, faith, and adultery without resorting to sensationalism. Breathtaking."
"--Library Journal," starred review
"Specificity and complexity and. . .a somber power."
"--Kirkus Reviews"
Praise for "Skeletons at the Feast"
" "
"Suspenseful. . .romantic. . .a deeply satisfying novel."
-- "The Washington Post Book World"
" "
"Poignant. . .Harrowing. . . Bohjalian has given us an important addition to the story of World War II."
--"The Boston Globe"
"Ingenious. . .compelling. . .Judging who's right or wrong is difficult and one senses that's just the way Bohjalian wants it."
"-- Los Angeles Times"
" "
"Mixes the nail-biting brutality of "The Kite Runner" with the emotional intimacy of Anne Frank's diary."
-- "Austin American-Statesman"
" "
Praise for "The Double Bind"
" "
""The Double Bind" is simply one of the best written, most compelling, artfully woven novels to grace bookshelves in years. Immediately after the spellbinding surprise ending, readers will want to begin again at the first page. It's THAT good."
- "Associated Press"
" "
"Artfully constructed and fiercely felt. . . Bohjalian. . .has deliberately wandered into thriller territory. . .He's playing with our minds in a way that ultimately evokes not Fitzgerald but that master of deviousness, Alfred Hitchcock."
-- "The Miami Herald"
" "
"Terrifying. . .Laurel is an unforgettable, vulnerable, complicated character."
--"The Los Angeles Times"

"From the Hardcover edition."

A"Must-Read Book for Spring," "Today Show," Weekend Edition
IndieBound "Indie Next" pick, February 2010
"Superb. . . .Fans of Bohjalian's 11 other novels (including "Midwives") know to expect the unexpected and, thanks to his creativity and cunning, readers usually get walloped by one heck of a plot twist by book's end. In Secrets of Eden, the old saw that none of us knows what really goes on in a house when the shades are drawn rings chillingly true."
Carol Memmott, "USA Today
"
"Superbly written - vivid and horrifying without being melodramatic....a tribute to Bohjalian's storytelling skill."
" The Boston Globe
""Suspenseful. . .searing. . .Bohjalian has written a literary murder mystery that hooks readers early and keeps its secrets until the end. . .Bohjalian's book is about the power of secrets and sacrifice and a warning against jumping to judgment. Those who doubt their faith, he writes, are sometimes the strongest among us."
Amy Driscoll, "The Miami Herald"
Chris Bohjalian has always known how to keep the pages turning. In his latest novel, a small Vermont hamlet has been racked by a well-established couple's apparent murder-suicide. Bohjalian describes the aftermath of that ruinous night in varied voices, effortlessly slipping into the heads of the shaken local pastor, the no-nonsense deputy state attorney, and the best-selling author whose own past draws her to the scene of the crime. . .[A] study of guilt and grief.
" Entertainment Weekly
""Page-turning. . .Bohjalian has a knack for creating nuanced, detailed first-person female characters. . .SECRETS OF EDENspeeds along pleasingly as both thriller and character study."
" Seattle Times
" To call this fine novel a mystery would be like calling the Hallelujah Chorus a nice song. . .Bohjalian has written a gripping story that keeps the reader turning pages to find out what really happened...But there is so much more in this rich story. Bohjalian delves into the profound mysteries of human existence. What is faith? What is love? And who are really the angels among us?"
"" "Winston-Salem Journal
"[A]suspenseful page-turner...This book will entertain you with its suspense, but it will also make you think about how hurtful secrets can be."
" Minneapolis Star-Tribune"
"
"Secrets are sprinkled throughout a Chris Bohjalian novel like loose change spilled from the pockets of a master storyteller. . .exquisite. . .magic is rediscovered in 'Secrets of Eden.'"
"" ""Tom Mayer, "Lake City Reporter
"
Bohjalian has built a reputation on his rich characters and immersing readers in diverse subjects homeopathy, animal rights activism, midwifery and his latest surely won t disappoint. The morning after her baptism into the Rev. Stephen Drew s Vermont Baptist church, Alice Hayward and her abusive husband are found dead in their home, an apparent murder-suicide. Stephen, the novel s first narrator, is so racked with guilt over his failure to save Alice that he leaves town. Soon, he meets Heather Laurent, the author of a book about angels whose own parents marriage also ended in tragedy. Stephen s deeply sympathetic narration is challenged by the next two narrators: deputy state attorney Catherine Benincasa, whose suspicions are aroused initially by Stephen s abrupt departure (and then by questions about his relationship with Alice), and Heather, who distances herself from Stephen for similar reasons and risks the trip into her dark past by seeking out Katie, the Haywards now-orphaned 15-year-old daughter who puts into play the final pieces of the puzzle, setting things up for a touching twist. Fans of Bohjalian s more exotic works will miss learning something new, but this is a masterfully human and compassionate tale.
" Publishers Weekly, " starred and boxed review
Bohjalian "drops bombshell clues...and weaves subtle nuances of doubt and intrigue into a taut, read-in-one-sitting murder mystery."
" Booklist," starred and boxed review
"Bohjalian's most splendid accomplishment to date. . .A fantastic choice for book clubs, this novel deals beautifully withcontroversial topics of domestic abuse, faith, and adultery withoutresorting to sensationalism. Breathtaking."
" Library Journal," starred review
Specificity and complexity and. . .a somber power.
" Kirkus Reviews"
Praise for "Skeletons at the Feast"
""
Suspenseful. . .romantic. . .a deeply satisfying novel.
-- "The Washington Post Book World"
""
"Poignant. . .Harrowing. . . Bohjalian has given us an important addition to the story of World War II."
"The Boston Globe"
Ingenious. . .compelling. . .Judging who's right or wrong is difficult and one senses that's just the way Bohjalian wants it.
"-- Los Angeles Times"
""
Mixes the nail-biting brutality of "The Kite Runner" with the emotional intimacy of Anne Frank's diary."
"Austin American-Statesman"
""
Praise for "The Double Bind"
""
"The Double Bind" is simply one of the best written, most compelling, artfully woven novels to grace bookshelves in years. Immediately after the spellbinding surprise ending, readers will want to begin again at the first page. It s THAT good.
"Associated Press"
""
Artfully constructed and fiercely felt. . . Bohjalian. . .has deliberately wandered into thriller territory. . .He's playing with our minds in a way that ultimately evokes not Fitzgerald but that master of deviousness, Alfred Hitchcock."
"The Miami Herald"
""
"Terrifying. . .Laurel is an unforgettable, vulnerable, complicated character."
"The Los Angeles Times"

"From the Hardcover edition.""

A"Must-Read Book for Spring," Today Show, Weekend Edition
IndieBound Indie Next pick, February 2010
"Superb. . . .Fans of Bohjalian's 11 other novels (including Midwives) know to expect the unexpected and, thanks to his creativity and cunning, readers usually get walloped by one heck of a plot twist by book's end. In Secrets of Eden, the old saw that none of us knows what really goes on in a house when the shades are drawn rings chillingly true."
Carol Memmott, USA Today

"Superbly written - vivid and horrifying without being melodramatic....a tribute to Bohjalian's storytelling skill."
The Boston Globe
"Suspenseful. . .searing. . .Bohjalian has written a literary murder mystery that hooks readers early and keeps its secrets until the end. . .Bohjalian's book is about the power of secrets and sacrifice and a warning against jumping to judgment. Those who doubt their faith, he writes, are sometimes the strongest among us."
Amy Driscoll, The Miami Herald
Chris Bohjalian has always known how to keep the pages turning. In his latest novel, a small Vermont hamlet has been racked by a well-established couple's apparent murder-suicide. Bohjalian describes the aftermath of that ruinous night in varied voices, effortlessly slipping into the heads of the shaken local pastor, the no-nonsense deputy state attorney, and the best-selling author whose own past draws her to the scene of the crime. . .[A] study of guilt and grief.
Entertainment Weekly
"Page-turning. . .Bohjalian has a knack for creating nuanced, detailed first-person female characters. . .SECRETS OF EDENspeeds along pleasingly as both thriller and character study."
Seattle Times
To call this fine novel a mystery would be like calling the Hallelujah Chorus a nice song. . .Bohjalian has written a gripping story that keeps the reader turning pages to find out what really happened...But there is so much more in this rich story. Bohjalian delves into the profound mysteries of human existence. What is faith? What is love? And who are really the angels among us?"
Winston-Salem Journal
"[A]s...

Book Description

From the bestselling author of Skeletons at the Feast comes a novel of shattered faith, intimate secrets, and the delicate nature of sacrifice.

About this edition

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 184737834X
• ISBN 13: 9781847378347
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 384