First published 1997
A young woman's quest to unravel her family's dark past. Abandoned by her mother, Dawn grows up in poverty, yearning for a place to call home. When she discovers her true identity, she must confront the legacy of abuse and the temptation of forbidden love. In Heaven, a girl escapes her isolated mountain existence, only to face new challenges in the outside world. And in Ruby, a woman returns to the eerie mansion of her childhood, determined to reclaim her rightful place in the family.
Genres: historical-fiction, mystery, gothic, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Boston, Cutler's Cove, Louisiana, New Orleans, New York, Virginia, Virginia Beach, West Virginia, Winnerrow
Period: 1961, 1965
960 pages · Hardcover · Atria
Content warnings: abuse, child-abuse