“In her latest, St. John Mandel shows how relationships formed in high school, so often fraught with drama, can ebb and flow and fade and come back to haunt. Among her characters, the perception of what's important and the potential impact of actions varies widely, and something as seemingly insignificant as a photograph can become riddled with layers of meaning, differing for each person who sees it. The writing is taut, the characters well wrought, and St. John Mandel's characteristic infusions of moral ambiguity and complexity remind us, as good novels should, of what it means to be human.”
— Emily Pullen, Skylight Books, Los Angeles, CA
Description
From the bestselling author of Station Eleven and Sea of Tranquility—Gavin Sasaki was a promising young journalist in New York City until the day he was fired for plagiarism.
The last thing he wants is to sell foreclosed real estate for his sister Eilo’s company in their Florida hometown, but he’s in no position to refuse her job offer. Plus, there’s another reason to go home: Eilo recently met a ten-year-old girl who looks very much like Gavin and has the same last name as his high-school girlfriend, Anna, who left town abruptly after graduation.
Determined to find out if this little girl might be his daughter, Gavin sets off to track down Anna, starting with the three friends they shared back when he was part of a jazz group called “The Lola Quartet.” As Gavin pieces together their stories, he learns that Anna has been on the run for good reason, and soon his investigation into her sudden disappearance all those years ago takes a seriously dangerous turn.
Look for Emily St. John Mandel’s bestselling new novel, Sea of Tranquility!
About the Author
EMILY ST. JOHN MANDEL's five previous novels include The Glass Hotel and Station Eleven, which was a finalist for a National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and has been translated into thirty-five languages. She lives in New York City.
Praise For…
“[An] ingeniously constructed literary thriller.”— Minneapolis StarTribune “[An] elegant, hypnotic novel. . . . An elegy for lost—and perhaps only imagined—innocence.” —The Washington Post
“Compelling. . . . Perhaps all novelists can be said to wrestle with morality; Mandel seems to wrestle with it at greater length and in greater depth than most. . . . First-rate fiction.” —Dallas Morning News “A novel noir that wears its influences proudly on the beige sleeve of its trench coat…. Delightful.” —Paste
“Trumpets [Mandel’s] talents: her charismatic verbal grace and acuity, the rich atmosphere she creates.” —The Boston Globe
“Emily St. John Mandel is astonishing.” —Emma Straub, author of The Vacationers “[Mandel] is a stunningly beautiful writer whose complex, flawed, and well-drawn characters linger with you.” —Sarah McCarry, Tor.com
“Fascinating.” —Booklist
“Riveting. . . . Evocative, intriguing, and complex, this novel is as smooth as the underbelly of a deadly, furtive reptile.” —Library Journal (starred review)
“A rewarding read.” —Foreword magazine
“Result[s] in both sophistication and suspense.” —Publishers Weekly
“[Mandel’s] writing is pure elegance.” —Patrick DeWitt, author of Sisters Brothers
“In her latest, St. John Mandel shows how relationships formed in high school, so often fraught with drama, can ebb and flow and fade and come back to haunt. Among her characters, the perception of what's important and the potential impact of actions varies widely, and something as seemingly insignificant as a photograph can become riddled with layers of meaning, differing for each person who sees it. The writing is taut, the characters well wrought, and St. John Mandel's characteristic infusions of moral ambiguity and complexity remind us, as good novels should, of what it means to be human.”