There Was an Old Woman : A Novel of Suspense
Author(s): Hallie Ephron
“Superb suspense and unforgettable characters make this an absolute must-read. I devoured this in one ravenous gulp!”—Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author
A young woman becomes entangled in a terrifying web of deception and madness involving an elderly neighbor in this riveting domestic noir by Edgar-nominated author Hallie Ephron
When Evie Ferrante’s mother is hospitalized, she arrives at the older woman’s house to find it in utter chaos and filled to the brim. Has her mother become a hoarder? Sorting through her belongings, Evie discovers objects that don’t quite belong there—expensive liquor in the garage, pricier than her mother’s usual brand, and a new flat-screen TV on the wall—that raise questions. Where did her mother get the money for such lavish purchases?
Evie renews a friendship with Mina, an elderly neighbor who might know more about her mother’s recent activities, but Mina has her own set of problems. As Evie investigates her mother’s actions and digs into the events of the past few months, a dark, sinister story of deception and madness begins to unfold.
Review(s):
“Ephron’s novels are gripping because her characters are just real and nuanced enough to identify with. Ultimately, it’s compassion that makes us stay up late reading and, nose in book, miss our subway stop the next morning.”
“Intensive, sustaining suspense . . . Ephron ratchets up the suspense by using short chapters and strong characterization, deftly capturing the instability and plight of the elderly. . . A dark, captivating and deliciously creepy tale that’s liable to keep you reading all night long.”
“In portraying the inner life of an aged widow struggling heroically against her limitations, [THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN] is very good . . . Ephron . . . continues to assert her own thoughtful style.”
“Ephron delivers a suspenseful punch that kept me up all night reading...A cleverly plotted, well-orchestrated, and thoroughly engaging novel.”
“Superb suspense and unforgettable characters make this an absolute must-read. THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN is so good, I devoured this in one ravenous gulp!”
“Haunting. Compelling. And beautifully written. This insidiously creepy and eerily sinister tale twists and turns with suspense-and a surprise around every corner. Hallie Ephron is the queen of secrets-and the star of suburban noir.”
“Hallie Epron has an extraordinary talent for imbuing the ordinary with menace, and for creating wonderful, memorable characters. Mina, the old woman of the title, shines. This is Ephron’s best book yet, and readers won’t be able to put it down.”
“Hallie Ephron’s newest is that thing you almost never see—an utterly fresh story. Evie and her crew will keep you guessing and hoping and teetering between laughter and tears, all the way home.”
“Hallie Ephron hits a grand slam with this suspenseful tale of long-held secrets, family foibles and human frailty . . . Her smooth prose paints colorful characters then slowly tightens its grip on your throat until you simply can’t put THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN down. A stellar novel.”
“Enjoy [There Was an Old Woman]...for the characterizations--particularly of Mina, still sharp in her tenth decade--and the nicely detailed sense of place.”
ISBN: 9780062117618