Synopses & Reviews
A mind-bending, genre-twisting debut novel
In West Akron, Ohio, there lived a reclusive elderly man who always wore mittens, even in July. He had no friends and no family; all over town, he was known as the Man from Primrose Lane. And on a summer day, someone murdered him.
Fast-forward four years. David Neff, the bestselling author of a true-crime book about an Ohio serial killer, is a broken man after his wifes inexplicable suicide. When an unexpected visit from an old friend introduces him to the strange mystery of “the man with a thousand mittens,” David decides to investigate. What he finds draws him back into a world he thought he had left behind forever. And the closer David gets to uncovering the true identity of the Man from Primrose Lane, the more he begins to understand the dangerous power of his own obsessions and how they may be connected to the deaths of both the old hermit and his beloved wife.
Deviously plotted and full of dark wit, James Renners The Man from Primrose Lane is an audacious debut that boasts as many twists as a roller coaster. But beneath its turns, its a spellbinding story about our obsessions: the dangerous sway they have over us and the fates of those we love.
Review
“The Man from Primrose Lane is a well-told story filled with darkness, horror, humor and surprising tenderness. And thats just the first part. There is a moment in this novel when the story moves in a way so unexpected I actually had to put it down and catch my breath. Go ahead, see what I mean. Ill wait here for you.” —Charles Yu, author of How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
“The Man from Primrose Lane is one of those novels that will leave you torn: youll want to read it slowly, in order to savor every scene, but youll feel compelled to rush through the pages to discover what happens next. With uncommon skill and intelligence, James Renner weaves an intricate story of murder, abduction, and obsessive love. An incredible achievement—beautifully written and dazzlingly plotted, full of well-drawn characters and unexpected twists.” —Harry Dolan, author of Bad Things Happen and Very Bad Men
“The Man from Primrose Lane is a haunting, wickedly clever book. Part Dennis Lehane and part Murakami, the twist of H. P. Lovecraft mixed in gives it a taste like no other. James Renner starts off his fiction career with a bang.” —Jonathan Carroll, author of The Ghost in Love
Review
“A thriller and a detective story, plus science fiction and romance with a little near-future dystopia thrown in…A superbly crazy and imaginative story.”—Associated Press
“Well written…Ambitious and innovative…If you like your fiction tidy and predictable, look elsewhere.”—The Washington Post
“Fascinating and unpredictable, with shades of Stephen King and HP Lovecraft as well as Douglas Adams, [The Man from Primrose Lane] never loses touch with the human story of loss, guilt and fate that is at its core.” —Laura Wilson, The Guardian (UK)
“The Man from Primrose Lane barrels along, fueled by Renners addictive storytelling….Its quite the interesting ride.”—The Denver Post
“A well-told story filled with darkness, horror, humor, and surprising tenderness. And thats just the first part. There is a moment in this novel when the story moves in a way so unexpected I actually had to put it down and catch my breath. Go ahead, see what I mean. Ill wait here for you.”—Charles Yu, author of How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
“Features superbly drawn characters and escalates into a genre-bending narrative (noir, sci-fi, and more) of thrills and twists. A great choice for readers who enjoyed Tana Frenchs In the Woods or any work by Philip K. Dick.”—Library Journal
“Brilliantly intricate… [with] a fantastic finish [and] compelling, interesting characters… I couldnt put The Man From Primrose Lane down.” —SF Signal
Synopsis
In West Akron, Ohio, there lived an elderly recluse who always wore mittens, even in July. He had no friends and no family, and was known only as the Man from Primrose Lane. And on a summer day, someone murdered him. Fast-forward four years. David Neff, the bestselling author of a true-crime book about an Ohio serial killer, is broken by his wifes inexplicable suicide. When an unexpected visit from an old friend introduces him to the strange mystery of “the man with a thousand mittens,” David decides to investigate. But the closer he gets to uncovering the mans true identity, the more he begins to understand the reality-altering power of his own obsessions—and how they may be connected to the deaths of the old hermit and Davids beloved wife. Deviously plotted and full of dark wit, James Renners The Man from Primrose Lane is an audacious page-turner unlike anything youve ever read.
Video
About the Author
James Renner is the author of two books of nonfiction that detail his adventures in investigative journalism: Amy: My Search for Her Killer and The Serial Killers Apprentice. His work has been featured in Best American Crime Reporting and Best Creative Nonfiction. He lives in Ohio.