As the New York Times has said, “Few writers can manipulate a plot with [Chris] Bohjalian’s grace and power.” Now he is back with an ambitious new novel that travels between Jay Gatsby’s Long Island and rural New England, between the Roaring Twenties and the twenty-first century. When college sophomore Laurel Estabrook is attacked while riding her bicycle through Vermont’s back roads, her life is forever changed. Formerly outgoing, Laurel withdraws into her photography and begins to work at a homeless shelter. There she meets Bobbie Crocker, a man with a history of mental illness and a box of photographs that he won’t let anyone see. When Bobbie dies suddenly, Laurel discovers that before he was homeless, Bobbie Crocker was a successful photographer. As Laurel’s fascination with Bobbie’s former life begins to merge into obsession, she becomes convinced that some of his photographs reveal a deeply hidden, dark family secret and falls into into a cat-and-mouse game with pursuers who claim they want to save her. In this spellbinding literary thriller, rich with complex and compelling characters Chris Bohjalian takes listeners on his most intriguing, most haunting, and most unforgettable journey yet.
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"Interesting tale of a young social worker who fights her personal demons as she seaches to find answers in a box of photos left behind by a homeless client. "
— Debie (4 out of 5 stars)
" I really enjoyed the story overall, but the ending really made me mad! The ending ruined it for me. "
— Rachel, 6/23/2011" It started me wondering about Nick Gatsby, so I had to read more about him. "
— Diana, 6/4/2011" I couldn't decide if the end was a fantasy, a brilliant piece of writing, or if I'd been had. On further reflection, I believe I was had. "
— Kristin, 6/1/2011" Interesting story that initially had me confused. Jay Gatsby was real? But, of course, this is but one of the mysteries that kept me reading. "
— Anne, 5/23/2011" Very disturbing book. Well written but the kind of unsettling story that just stays with you. "
— Lauren, 5/22/2011" three stars isn't entirely accurate. i think 3.75 stars would be better. perhaps the "ta-da! she had a psychotic break" finale was a bit cliche as literary fiction goes. however, i still really enjoy the author, and will continue to read his work. "
— Melissa, 5/19/2011Chris Bohjalian is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-four books, including The Flight Attendant, which has been made into an HBO Max limited series. His novels Secrets of Eden, Midwives, and Past the Bleachers were made into movies. His work has been translated into more than thirty- five languages. He is also a playwright He can be found at chrisbohjalian.com or on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Litsy, and Goodreads.
Susan Denaker is an actress and Earphones Award–winning narrator. Her extensive theater credits include numerous plays in the West End of London, national tours, many English rep companies, including a season with Alan Ayckbourn’s company in Scarborough. In the US, she has appeared in Our Town and Sweet Bird of Youth at the La Jolla Playhouse and Breaking Legs at the Westport Playhouse.