About this item
John Searles's Help for the Haunted is an unforgettable story of a most unusual family, their deep secrets, their harrowing tragedy, and ultimately, a daughter's discovery of a dark and unexpected mystery.Sylvie Mason's parents have an unusual occupation - helping "haunted souls" find peace. After receiving a strange phone call one winter's night, they leave the house and are later murdered in an old church in a horrifying act of violence.A year later, Sylvie is living in the care of her older sister, who may be to blame for what happened to their parents. Now, the inquisitive teenager pursues the mystery, moving closer to the knowledge of what occurred that night - and to the truth about her family's past and the secrets that have haunted them for years.
About the Author
John Searles is the best-selling author of the novels Her Last Affair, Help for the Haunted, Strange but True and Boy Still Missing. Hailed as "riveting" by The New York Times and "hypnotic" by Entertainment Weekly, Boy Still Missing, inspired Time magazine to name him a "Person to Watch," and the New York Daily News to name him a "New Yorker to Watch. " His second novel, Strange but True was praised as "sinister and complex" by Janet Maslin of The New York Times, "extraordinary" by Publishers Weekly, and was named best novel of the year by Salon. John's most recent novel, Help for the Haunted, was named a Boston Globe Best Crime Novel of the Year, an Entertainment Weekly Top 10 Must List, and won the American Library Association's Alex Award. In 2019, Strange But True was adapted for film by the producers of La La Land and released in theaters nationwide by Lionsgate. Now streaming on Netflix and Amazon Prime, the film stars the award-winning ensemble cast of Amy Ryan, Greg Kinnear, Brian Cox, Blythe Danner, Nick Robinson and Margaret Qualley. The movie was praised as "suspenseful and haunting" by The Hollywood Reporter and "a twisty tale of tragic secrets" by the Los Angeles Times. John has appeared regularly on morning programs like NBC's Today Show, CBS This Morning, Live! With Regis & Kelly, NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross and CNN to discuss his books. The longtime books editor of Cosmopolitan, John also served as the magazine's brand director, executive editor, and editor-at-large. His personal and travel essays, book and restaurant reviews have been published in the New York Times, Washington Post and numerous other magazines, newspapers and websites. He has a master's degree in creative writing from New York University and lives in New York.
