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The SECRETS OF EDEN ebook is on sale for $6.99! My 2010 mystery about a murdered woman has a line that remains among the most quoted I‘ve written: “Food is a gift and should be treated reverentially--romanced and ritualized and seasoned with memory.” It became a movie starring John Stamos. Have you read it?

I‘ve been going down genealogical rabbit holes a lot lately, so haven‘t read so much. But I did find time to finish my #bookspin for May. I won‘t say I figured out the twist, it I recognized the red herrings. It‘s hard to say this was an enjoyable read, given the dark subject matter, but it was something like that.

I liked the book, mostly. Esp. the multiple narrator viewpoints. The movie, not so much.

This book is about an alleged murder-suicide that wreaks havoc on its small town, with its country pastor, a famous writer, and local law enforcement all sorting the remaining pieces. I loved the different POVs which showcased how one incident can be perceived so differently between people experiencing the same moment. I enjoyed the entirety of the book, with the last sentence being my favorite.

While reading, I forgot this was a work of fiction. Each character seemed to be a real person that I knew from my past. It became very real. I had known battered women and the children of battered women and Bohjalian nailed the walking on eggshells anxiety.

It is also true that people who cannot trust loved ones will find something to trust - angels or drugs.

I can't believe that there was a name mentioned once of Corona. How coincidental.

#ReadWithMrBook @MrBook I plan on reading the tagged book @ChrisBohjalian -Who will you read? I follow other authors, I know. If you are comfortable, please promote your work for this awesome prompt.

@LibrarianRyan created this list. https://www.litsy.com/web/post/1854787

Because it‘s Saturday morning.

My novel, SECRETS OF EDEN, turns nine years old this week. The movie with John Stamos and Anna Gunn? A mere seven. This was the second time I had multiple first person narrators. They offer a Rashomon-like exploration of what seems to be a domestic violence murder-suicide in Vermont.

I wanted to like this book, but in the end it was just so-so for me. As a mystery, it didn‘t have that same must-keep-reading-because-I-need-to-know quality that so many do. And as a character study, it also fell short for me. This is my second book by Bohjalian and neither has nailed it for me, so I‘ll probably take a break for a while.

A murder/suicide rocks a small Vermont town and the events leading up to and following are told through the POV of four main characters. A little sleepy at times, but overall I liked the plot and the characters.
⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

It was on this date in 2010 that my novel, SECRETS OF EDEN, was published. My deepest thanks to @Crownpublishing . #grateful #mystery

Early morning announcement: if you haven't seen the 2012 movie based on my novel, "Secrets of Eden," it's airing this afternoon on @lifetimemovies -- 2 pm EST, but check your guide, if you want to record it before leaving for work. Cast includes #JohnStamos and #AnnaGunn. @Crownpublishing

My Goodwill find today...not read this author before

"She was a good kid who had become a good teen-too intelligent for drugs and too ambitious to get pregnant."

"With age comes acumen. With experience comes insight." -- from Secrets of Eden, published seven years ago this month.

“Food is a gift and should be treated reverentially--romanced and ritualized and seasoned with memory.” -- from Secrets of Eden