About this item
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPRFor fans of The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane and A Discovery of Witches comes a brilliantly imagined debut novel brimming with rich history suspense and magic Revelation ldquoReverdquo Dyer grew up with her grandmotherrsquos family stories stretching back centuries to Reversquos ancestors who founded the town of Hawley Five Corners Massachusetts Their history is steeped in secrets for few outsiders know that an ancient magic runs in the Dyer womenrsquos blood and that Reve is a magician whose powers are all too real Reve and her husband are world-famous Las Vegas illusionists They have three lovely young daughters a beautiful home and what seems like a charmed life But Reversquos world is shattered when an intruder alters her trick pistol and she accidentally shoots and kills her beloved husband onstage Fearing for her daughtersrsquo lives Reve flees with them to the place she has always felt safestmdashan antiquated farmhouse in the forest of Hawley Five Corners where the magic of her ancestors reigns and her oldest friendmdashand first lovemdashis the townrsquos chief of police Here in the forest with its undeniable air of enchantment Reve hopes she and her girls will be protected Delving into the past for answers Reve is drawn deeper into her familyrsquos legends What she discovers is The Hawley Book of the Dead an ancient leather-bound journal holding mysterious mythic power As she pieces together the truth behind the book Reve will have to shield herself and her daughters against an uncertain increasingly dangerous fate For soon it becomes clear that the stranger who upended Reversquos life in Las Vegas has followed her to Hawleymdashand that she has something he desperately wants Brimming with rich history suspense and magic The Hawley Book of the Dead is a brilliantly imagined debut novel from a riveting new voicePraise for The Hawley Book of the Dead ldquoAn informed and assured launch Readers will be thoroughly engaged by the literary magical horse-loving ReverdquomdashPublishers Weekly starred review ldquoEnthralling a magic-fueled tale of contemporary romantic suspenserdquomdashBooklist starred review ldquoThe core narrative is strong with a proper hook The scenes with Reve and her daughters ring truerdquomdashLibrary Journal ldquoAn impressive debut novel that combines various genres seamlesslyrdquomdashHuntington News ldquoEngrossing a novel well worth discovering In the vein of authors like Deborah Harkness and Katherine Howe magic and reality are perfectly blendedrdquomdashBookPage ldquoWith a rapid pace and exquisite details that clearly set the scene and mood Chrysler Szarlanrsquos novel is a great read for those who love fantasy and tales of witchcraftrdquomdashShelf AwarenessldquoThe Hawley Book of the Dead had me completely spellbound from beginning to end A storytelling virtuosa Chrysler Szarlan has woven a wondrous scintillating web of suspense love history and magic that will keep you eagerly turning the pages late into the night Even readers not normally drawn to the supernatural will be swept away by this book it has everything a great adventure should havemdashand so much morerdquomdashAnne Fortier ldquoA haunting story of love loss family secrets mysteries and magicrdquomdashLauren WilligFrom the Hardcover edition.
About the Author
I've jogged racehorses, performed as a magician's assistant, and worked as an attorney with the Connecticut Legal Rights Project. My debut novel, The Hawley Book of the Dead, was named an NPR Best Book of 2014, and is a finalist for a Silver Falchion award for Best First Book! My essays have appeared in The Huffington Post, The Sunday Telegraph, and Whatever. I live in western Massachusetts with my family, where I am honored to direct the Odyssey Bookshop's Write On! writing classes.
