<p/><br></br><p><b> About the Book </b></p></br></br>In Barry's captivating debut, Towner Whitney, a young woman descended from a long line of mind readers and fortune tellers, has returned to her hometown of Salem, Massachusetts, for rest and relaxation. Any tranquility in her life is short-lived, however, when her aunt drowns under mysterious circumstances.<p/><br></br><p><b> Book Synopsis </b></p></br></br>In the tradition of <em>The Thirteenth Tale, </em><em>Brunonia Barry's </em>bewitching gothic novel, <em>The Lace Reader, </em>is a phenomenon. Called "[a] richly imagined saga of passion, suspense, and magic" by <em>Time </em><em>Magazine, it is a haunting and remarkable tale told by an unforgettable, if strangely unreliable narrator--a woman from an enigmatic Salem family who can foretell the future in patterns of lace. The Lace Reader </em><em>was a runaway New York Times </em><em>bestseller--hitting the top lists in major cities across the country, from Boston to Chicago to Los Angeles--and has immediately established debut author Brunonia Barry as a major force in contemporary American fiction.</em><p/><br></br><p><b> From the Back Cover </b></p></br></br><p>Every gift has a price . . . every piece of lace has a secret.</p><p>Towner Whitney, the self-confessed unreliable narrator, hails from a family of Salem women who can read the future in the patterns in lace, and who have guarded a history of secrets going back generations. Now the disappearance of two women is bringing Towner back home to Salem--and is bringing to light the shocking truth about the death of her twin sister.</p><p/><br></br><p><b> Review Quotes </b></p></br></br><br>"Brunonia Barry has pulled off a major feat with her debut, The Lace Reader: It's a gorgeously written literary novel that's also a doozy of a thriller, capped with a jaw-dropping denouement that will leave even the most careful reader gasping."--<em>Dallas Morning News</em><br><br>"Gripping...a marvelously bizarre cast of characters (living and dead) in a uniquely colorful town."--<em>Washington Post Book World</em><br><br>"The Lace Reader casts an enthralling spell...As The Lace Reader unspools, we are drawn into a whirling vortex of deceit. Barry untangles these confusing strands of mystery with an artful precision."--<em>Minneapolis Star Tribune</em><br><br>"What makes Brunonia Barry's compulsively readable debut even more interesting is the spice added by fillips both psychic and supernatural."--<em>Denver Post</em><br><br>"[A] richly imagined saga of passion, suspense, and magic."--Time magazine<br><br>"A spine-tingler set in Salem...[with] an irresistible pull...The Lace Reader is tailor-made for a boisterous night at the book club."--People (People Pick)<br><br>"An engrossing modern-day twist on the classic Gothic novel....the story both astonishes and satisfies. In short, The Lace Reader is great entertainment."--Tampa Tribune<br><br>"Barry excels at capturing the feel of smalltown life, and balances action with close looks at the characters' inner worlds. Her pacing and use of different perspectives show tremendous skill and will keep readers captivated all the way through."--Publishers Weekly, starred review<br><br>"Finely rendered moments make this a novel to savor--a story as textured as it is imaginative... a story that readers will find as lovely as a swatch of handmade lace."--Rocky Mountain News<br><br>"Suspenseful and literary catnip-for-book-clubs...while it's surprisingly gritty for having "lace" in the title, we're calling this now as the beach read of '08."--New York magazine<br>