The Lace Reader - Softcover

"A gorgeously written literary novel that's a doozy of a thriller, capped with a jaw-dropping denouement that will leave even the most careful reader gasping."--Chicago Tribune

"What is real in The Lace Reader? What is not? To her credit Ms. Barry makes this story blithe and creepy in equal measure.... And there is much suspense invested in where all the lacunas in Towner's impressions will lead her...There are clues planted everywhere."--New York Times

"An ambitious debut. Unusual and otherworldly, this is a blizzard of a story which manages to pull together its historical, supernatural and psychiatric elements. A survivor's tale of redemption."--Kirkus Reviews

"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."--Dallas Morning News

"The Lace Reader is a page-turner, and the ending is almost as shocking as the film The Sixth Sense."--Salem Gazette

"Barry's depictions of her characters' altered states of consciousness are beautifully rendered. And "The Lace Reader" establishes Brunonia Barry as a force..."--The Olympian

"[For] fans of Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island, Chris Bohjalian's The Double Bind."--Booklist

"The Lace Reader challenges the very notion of reality. A compelling, fast-action page turner. A terrific read!"--Diane Stern, CBS Radio, Boston

"Past and present mysteries merge in a fast-moving narrative that builds through a numerous small dramas to a theatrical conclusion."--Katherine Turman, Elle

"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

In the tradition of The Thirteenth Tale, Brunonia Barry’s bewitching gothic novel, The Lace Reader, is a phenomenon. Called “[a] richly imagined saga of passion, suspense, and magic” by Time 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 was a runaway New York Times 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.