Synopses & Reviews
In 1948, a mysterious and charismatic man arrives in a small Virginia town carrying two suitcases—one contains his worldly possessions, the other is full of money. He soon inserts himself into the towns daily life, taking a job in the local butcher shop and befriending the owner and his wife and their son. But the passion that develops between the man and the wife of the towns wealthiest citizen sets in motion a series of events that not only upset the quiet town but threaten to destroy both him and the woman.
Review
“Goolrick’s tale of doomed love resonates like a folk ballad , with the language of the Blue Ridge Mountains and its people giving this novel its soul. . . . Like any good ballad, the narrative builds slowly to it s violent climax, packs an emotional punch, and then haunt s readers with it s quintessentially American refrain..”
—Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly
Review
“Dietz . . . offers up strong and unique voices. . . . This is a first-rate audio production.”
Publishers Weekly Library Journal
Review
“Dietzs calm style adds to the sensuous descriptions while still creating the feeling that something bad is going to happen. The listener, lulled by Dietzs tender voice, will feel the horror of the plots climax as strongly as young Sam and the people of Brownsburg.”
—AudioFile O, The Oprah magazine
Review
“A lyrical yet suspenseful novel for general fiction readers.”
—Library Journal Family Circle
Review
“Deliciously dark and dangerous.”
—O, The Oprah Magazine Washington Post
Review
“[A] soulful and heart wrenching tale of love that knows no bounds.”
—Family Circle Lancaster Online
Review
“Goolrick is a writer with a big heart and a deft hand for drama. I look forward to whatever he pens next.”
—Washington Post Booklist
Review
“A character-driven novel by Robert Goolrick, allows Dietz to offer listeners the full measure of a dramatic talent he honed during his decades in theater. Using low tones, near whispers—at turns urgent, reflective, matter of fact—Dietz describes an affair that consumes two people, shakes a town and permanently warps the young boy who witnesses it.”
—Lancaster Online Ralph Magazine
Review
“Dietzs subtle southern accent matches his thoughtful pacing of Goolricks descriptive prose and expository speech.”
—Booklist
Review
“I cant tell you . . . how entrancing the reading by Norman Dietz. Its one of the best narratives Ive ever run across. Dietzs voice is perfect, and perfectly engrossing. . . . I urge you to forego the pleasures of the page and seek out these eight CDs from HighBridge.”
—Ralph Magazine
Synopsis
The author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, A Reliable Wife, returns with another suspenseful fast-paced gothic story of love, lust, betrayal, and revenge.
About the Author
In addition to his most recent novel, The Fall of Princes, Robert Goolrick is the author of three other books: The End of the World as We Know It, a memoir; his first novel, A Reliable Wife, with sales of more than 1 million copies; and his second novel, Heading Out to Wonderful. He lives in Virginia.