First published 1995
Alice Goodwin watches over a neighbor's child on what seems like an ordinary day. The child drowns in the pond on the Goodwin property. This terrible accident shatters the Goodwin family in ways Alice never imagined. The tragedy ripples through every relationship Alice holds dear. Her marriage strains under the weight of guilt and grief. Her own children struggle to understand what happened. The community she once knew turns hostile. Alice must navigate a world where a single moment has changed everything. She faces questions about responsibility, blame, and whether families can survive when the unthinkable happens. Hamilton explores how one family confronts loss and searches for a way to rebuild their lives after devastation.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, 21st-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: grief, tragedy
Setting: Goodwin Property
Period: Ordinary Day
574 pages · Hardcover · Doubleday
Content warnings: child-death