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Synopses & Reviews
"A harrowing tale of the lies of omission and the lies of commission that can break a family apart, What Could Be Saved is a delicious hybrid of mystery, drama, and elegance: rich with detail, lush in language, and capable of keeping you on the edge of your seat." —Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author
An enthralling, redemptive novel set in Bangkok in 1972 and Washington, DC, in 2019 about an expatriate child who goes missing, whose family is contacted decades later by a man claiming to be the vanished boy.
Washington, DC, 2019: Laura Preston is a reclusive artist at odds with her older sister Bea as their elegant, formidable mother slowly slides into dementia. When a stranger contacts Laura claiming to be her brother who disappeared forty years earlier when the family lived in Bangkok, Laura ignores Bea's warnings of a scam and flies to Thailand to see if it can be true. But meeting him in person leads to more questions than answers.
Bangkok, 1972: Genevieve and Robert Preston live in a beautiful house behind a high wall, raising their three children with the help of a cadre of servants. In these exotic surroundings, Genevieve strives to create a semblance of the life they would have had at home in the US — ballet and riding classes for the children, impeccable dinner parties, a meticulously kept home. But in truth, Robert works for American intelligence, Genevieve finds herself drawn into a passionate affair with her husband's boss, and their serene household is vulnerable to unseen dangers in a rapidly changing world and a country they don't really understand.
Alternating between past and present as all of the secrets are revealed, What Could Be Saved is an unforgettable novel about a family shattered by loss and betrayal, and the beauty that can exist even in the midst of brokenness.
Review
"Superb....Schwarz is a remarkable storyteller....Schwarz's stellar work is riveting from its start all the way to the final horrifying twist." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
Review
"[D]eeply realized characters....a gripping mystery that subtly ratchets up the tension with each chapter. A richly imagined page-turner that delivers twists alongside thought-provoking commentary." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"A harrowing tale of the lies of omission and the lies of commission that can break a family apart, What Could Be Saved is a delicious hybrid of mystery, drama, and elegance: rich with detail, lush in language, and capable of keeping you on the edge of your seat. " Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Spark of Light and Small Great Things
Review
"What Could Be Saved transported me. Liese O'Halloran Schwarz's exquisite and memorable writing has me still thinking about the ways in which the past influences the present, the complexities of family life, and the ways we negotiate challenges, tragedies, and secrets." Lisa See, New York Times bestselling author of The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane
Review
"A rich, complex novel...and just the kind of book you want to sink into on a winter's day." Real Simple, Top Picks
Review
"Schwarz reveals all in compelling, 'can't put it down' prose while at the same time building masterfully developed characters ." Booklist
Review
"Immersive, profoundly moving, and gorgeously told, What Could Be Saved tells the story of one family's lost then rediscovered son, exploring both cause and consequence with insightful empathy. With a cast of vivid characters, a captivating story, and a fluid style, What Could Be Saved is an unforgettable reading experience, one to savor and then share with everyone you know." Laura Sims, author of Looker
Review
"A gripping story of a family unraveling and the sibling love that ultimately endures. A great read." Jessica Francis Kane, author of Rules for Visiting
About the Author
Liese O'Halloran Schwarz, a former emergency medicine doctor, published her first novel Near Canaan while still in medical school. She is also the author of the acclaimed novel The Possible World and the forthcoming What Could Be Saved. She currently lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.