The Halo Effect by Anne D Leclaire
In this tour de force, a father, shaken by tragedy, tries to avenge his daughter’s murder—and restore his family’s shattered life. It was supposed to be a typical October evening for renowned portrait artist Will Light. Over dinner of lamb tagine, his wife, Sophie, would share news about chorus rehearsals for the upcoming holiday concert, and their teenage daughter, Lucy, would chatter about French club and field hockey. Only Lucy never came home. Her body was found, days later, in the woods. The Eastern Seaboard town of Port Fortune used to be Will’s comfort. Now, there’s no safe harbor for him. Not even when Father Gervase asks Will to paint portraits of saints for the new cathedral. Using the townspeople as models, Will sees in each face only a mask of the darkness of evil. And he just might be painting his daughter’s killer. As Will navigates his rage and heartbreak, Sophie tries to move on; Father Gervase becomes an unexpected ally; and Rain, Lucy’s best friend, shrouds herself in a near-silent fugue. Their paths collide in a series of inextricably linked, dark, dangerous moments that could lead to their undoing…or to their redemption.
“The people of Port Fortune are irrevocably changed by the murder of teenager Lucy Light, and Anne LeClaire’s generous spirit illuminates their flaws, struggles, and personal triumphs as they search for truth and meaningAfter I finished reading The Halo Effect, I sat thinking for a long time about the people in this beautiful novel, so much like the ones I know and love.” —Nancy Thayer, New York Times bestselling author of Secrets in Summer “The terms ‘literary’ and ‘page-turner’ dovetail beautifully in Anne D. LeClaire's new novel. The Halo Effect is a must-read for LeClaire's faithful fans and a sit-up-and-take-notice book for those who have yet to discover this talented, truth-seeking storyteller who asks the big questions as she observes the small but intricate details that make us human.” —Wally Lamb, New York Times bestselling author “Anne LeClaire's new novel The Halo Effect takes us into the life, the grief, the anguish, and the ultimate redemption of a man who has endured the excruciating loss of his only child through murder. It makes an eloquent statement about the curative power of the creative act and the leap of faith it takes to choose living and loving when the black peace of death seems so seductive. It's beautifully done.” —Elizabeth George, New York Times bestselling author “The Halo Effect will keep you turning pages, and fast. But it is that rarest of page turners, a novel that illuminates our frailties and the depths of grief while also managing to be hopeful and wholly human. Anne D. LeClaire has written a bighearted book that will leave you breathless.” —Ann Hood, author of The Knitting Circle and The Book That Matters Most “In her latest novel the wonderful Anne LeClaire combines a deeply suspenseful plot with vivid, heartbreaking characters. I couldn’t stop turning her beautifully written pages as Will, Sophie, Rain, and Father Gervase, in their different ways, struggle with grief, violence, and the question of who killed Lucy. The Halo Effect is both profoundly moving and deeply satisfying.” —Margot Livesey, author of Mercury and The Flight of Gemma Hardy “The Halo Effect is a wonderful hybrid: a compelling murder mystery and a thoughtful meditation on longing and loss. I was fascinated by the book's saints—and sinners.” —Chris Bohjalian, author of Midwives and The Sandcastle Girls “I wasn't ready for this one. As a fan of Anne LeClaire's work I knew that her writing would be of its usual excellence, watchful, luminous, and moving, but in The Halo Effect she has also drawn a New England community in its exact contours by placing it under the revealing pressure of tragedy. The result is a mystery at once literate, intimate, and almost intolerably suspenseful—reminiscent of Louise Penny at her best.” —Charles Finch, author of the bestselling Charles Lenox Mysteries “I just finished The Halo Effect and loved it. It’s a master class in voice and character, and in using secrets to drive suspense.” —Hallie Ephron, New York Times bestselling author of You'll Never Know, Dear “Like the series of paintings at its core, The Halo Effect is the story of families torn and reborn, a meditation on duality, and a masterwork lit by compassion. I'm telling everyone I know about this book.” —Sara Pennypacker, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pax “[The Halo Effect is] definitely a fast paced page turner.…If you’re a mystery fan looking for something just a little different, I’d say give this book a try because I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.” —Long and Short Reviews “The descriptive prose and well-developed characters rule this tale about anguish and loss. Fast-paced and highly emotional, The Halo Effect offers a sustaining message.” —Reader to Reader “There is nothing like a novel that takes you out of your comfort zone, draws you in to the point of complete immersion in the lives of characters wrought real and leaves you with fresh appreciation for life and all its possibilities, both good and bad. The Halo Effect is that kind of novel…at times painful in its unblinking honesty, but it is impossible to look away. Don’t make any plans once you open this book. You’ll be in Port Fortune for a while. And when you leave, the story will stay with you for a long time."—The Barnstable Patriot “Engrossing.…The idea that all people have the capacity for both good and evil and the power of redemption are central themes of [The Halo Effect].” —Cape Cod Times “Anne LeClaire has a genuine knack for writing deftly created characters and embedding them into inherently fascinating, unpredictable, narrative-driven story lines. The Halo Effect is a riveting read from cover to cover.” —Midwest Book Review “Prepare yourself for one of the most important books of the year.” —Fresh Fiction
Bestselling author Anne D. LeClaire has written eight novels, including Entering Normal, The Lavender Hour, and Leaving Eden, as well as her critically acclaimed memoir, Listening Below the Noise: The Transformative Power of Silence. Known for her exquisite and lyrical writing, the former op-ed columnist has been published in Redbook, the Boston Globe, Yoga Journal, and the New York Times. A Distinguished Fellow at the Ragdale Foundation, LeClaire teaches creative-writing workshops around the globe. She is also a dynamic speaker—leading popular seminars and workshops exploring silence, creativity, and deep listening. LeClaire has been a visiting lecturer at Mt. Holyoke College, the University of Tennessee, and Columbia College and was a featured presenter at the Lincoln Center. A former reporter, print journalist, radio broadcaster, and private pilot, LeClaire lives in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where she leads silent retreats, practices yoga, and plays the washboard.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781503943186 |
| ISBN 10 | 1503943186 |
| Title | The Halo Effect |
| Author | Anne D Leclaire |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Amazon Publishing |
| Year published | 2017-04-01 |
| Number of pages | 348 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |