Man from Primrose Lane - by James Renner (Paperback)

About the Book

With a deft and singular blend of suspense, literature, and horror, "The Man from Primrose Lane" boasts as many twists and turns as a roller coaster. It's a spellbinding journey of redemption and a reflection on the roles of fate, destiny, and obsession when it comes to matters of the heart.

Book Synopsis

In West Akron, Ohio, there lived an elderly recluse who always wore mittens, even in July. He had no friends and no family, and was known only as the Man from Primrose Lane. And on a summer day, someone murdered him. Fast-forward four years. David Neff, the bestselling author of a true-crime book about an Ohio serial killer, is broken by his wife's inexplicable suicide. When an unexpected visit from an old friend introduces him to the strange mystery of "the man with a thousand mittens," David decides to investigate. But the closer he gets to uncovering the man's true identity, the more he begins to understand the reality-altering power of his own obsessions--and how they may be connected to the deaths of the old hermit and David's beloved wife. Deviously plotted and full of dark wit, James Renner's The Man from Primrose Lane is an audacious page-turner unlike anything you've ever read.

Review Quotes

"A thriller and a detective story, plus science fiction and romance with a little near-future dystopia thrown in...A superbly crazy and imaginative story." --Associated Press

"Well written...Ambitious and innovative...If you like your fiction tidy and predictable, look elsewhere." --The Washington Post

"Fascinating and unpredictable, with shades of Stephen King and HP Lovecraft as well as Douglas Adams, [The Man from Primrose Lane] never loses touch with the human story of loss, guilt and fate that is at its core." --Laura Wilson, The Guardian (UK)

"The Man from Primrose Lane barrels along, fueled by Renner's addictive storytelling....It's quite the interesting ride." --The Denver Post

"A well-told story filled with darkness, horror, humor, and surprising tenderness. And that's just the first part. There is a moment in this novel when the story moves in a way so unexpected I actually had to put it down and catch my breath. Go ahead, see what I mean. I'll wait here for you." --Charles Yu, author of How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe

"Features superbly drawn characters and escalates into a genre-bending narrative (noir, sci-fi, and more) of thrills and twists. A great choice for readers who enjoyed Tana French's In the Woods or any work by Philip K. Dick." --Library Journal

"Brilliantly intricate... [with] a fantastic finish [and] compelling, interesting characters... I couldn't put The Man From Primrose Lane down." --SF Signal

About the Author

James Renner is the author of two books of nonfiction that detail his adventures in investigative journalism: Amy: My Search for Her Killer and The Serial Killer's Apprentice. His work has been featured in Best American Crime Reporting and Best Creative Nonfiction. He lives in Ohio.