Artfully imagined intricately detailed eerily poignant these are theoutstanding features of Carol Goodmans literary thrillers. She is partnovelist part craftsma... » 

Artfully imagined intricately detailed eerily poignant these are theoutstanding features of Carol Goodmans literary thrillers. She is partnovelist part craftsmanand The Drowning Tree is her newest masterpiece.Juno McKay intended to avoid the nearby campus of her alma mater during herfifteenth reunion weekend but she just cant turn down the chance to see herlongtime friend Christine Webb speak at the Penrose College library. ThoughJuno cringes at the inevitable talk of the pregnancy that kept her fromgraduating and of her husband Neil Buchwald who ended up in a mentalhospital only two years after their wedding Juno endures the gossip for herfriends sake. Christines lecture sends shockwaves through the rapt crowd whenshe reveals littleknown details about the lives of two sisters Eugenie andClaremembers of the powerful and influential family whose name the collegebears. Christines revelation throws shadows of betrayal lust and insanityonto the familys distinguished facade. But after the lecture Christineseems distant uneasy and sad. The next day she disappears. Juno immediatelysuspects a connection to her friends shocking speech. Although painfullyreminded of her own experience with Neils mental illness Juno neverthelesspeels away the layers of secrets and madness that surround the Penrose dynasty.She fears that Christine discovered something damning about them perhaps evensomething worth killing for. And Juno is determined to find itfor herselffor her friend and for her longlost husband. From the Hardcover edition. «