by Darcie Chan
First published 2014
Mary McAllister withdraws into her white house after her husband dies. She watches Mill River from her windows but rarely ventures outside. The townspeople below see her home perched above them and wonder about the woman inside. Mail deliveries and television provide her only connection to the world beyond her walls. Father Michael O'Brien serves as her sole confidant, the only person who knows what Mary keeps hidden. The elderly priest understands the weight of her secret and why she chose isolation over community. When the truth finally emerges, it will reshape how the residents of Mill River see their lives and their futures. Mary's revelation brings unexpected gifts to people who never knew they needed them. The story follows how tragedy can transform into something redemptive when one person chooses to reach beyond their own pain. Love and friendship arrive from directions no one anticipated.
Genres: literary-fiction, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, secrets
Setting: Mill River
384 pages · Paperback · Xander uitgevers