Hush Little Fire - by Judith Newcomb Stiles

Book Synopsis

Secrets implode and generations of lies boil over into deadly consequences when a suspicious fire breaks out Christmas Night on Cape Cod.

This enthralling and darkly humorous debut novel of abortion, adoption, and long-buried truths will captivate readers who loved Lessons in Chemistry and Where the Crawdads Sing.

When Mary Newcombe dutifully returns to Cape Cod with her twelve-year-old son to celebrate Christmas with her adoptive mother, Birdie, the only part of the trip she looks forward to is digging beach clay for pottery to stoke her beloved kiln. But while she's home, a suspicious fire destroys the town health clinic, and Mary becomes a leading suspect.

Mary can't remember the night of the fire (too much eggnog) and, as always, her mother isn't talking. Birdie has kept secrets from Mary her entire life, beginning with the truth about Mary's birth mother. When Mary discovers her adoptive father socked away a small fortune performing pre-Roe v. Wade illegal abortions in the clinic that burned to the ground, she's done with being kept in the dark. As the days tick by and pressures mount to find the arsonist, Mary digs deeper into Wellfleet's history, and more secrets start to unfurl.

Meanwhile, Mary's cousin Jimmy is acting strangely and suddenly, so is her son. As the FBI zeroes in on Mary, and another fire burns in the harbor, it's time for Mary and Birdie to face a long brewing reckoning.

A cross-generational mystery told through the perspectives of four women living on the underbelly of Cape Cod, Hush Little Fire is the perfect read for fans of Bonnie Garmus, Dennis Lehane, and Adrienne Brodeur.

Review Quotes

Praise for Hush Little Fire
"Natural, realistic storytelling... this twisty novel will be a good option for those looking for an unconventional and thematically potent mystery."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Darkly funny and brilliantly told, a story rich with bitingly authentic characters and twisting plot. Could not put it down."
--Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of Out of the Clear Blue Sky and Look on the Bright Side

"A gripping page-turner about the secrets we hand down through the generations told in four blazingly original female voices."
--Caroline Leavitt, New York Times bestselling author of Days of Wonder

"A haunting and richly atmospheric novel... a powerful meditation on identity, motherhood, and the inescapable pull of history."
--Renée Carlino, USA Today bestselling author of Wish You Were Here and Before We Were Strangers

"An extraordinary, timely debut by a brilliant new author whose work I predict will inhabit our literary consciousness for years to come. Absolutely luminous."
--Elissa Altman, author of Permission and Motherland

About the Author

From her Cape Cod studio, Judith Newcomb Stiles creates original ceramics inspired by the textures and vibrant colors of the seashore. While she waits for her pots to dry, she writes. Her short stories and essays can be found in Hemingway Shorts, Kenyon Review (honorable mention), Room Magazine (first prize essay), The Ex-Puritan, and The New York Times. She lives with her partner in crime, Mr. O'Hara, who helps clean up the house when their three kids, Julia, Jane, and Johnny, come to visit.