Old Ham - by Seraphina Nova Glass (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Everyone knows Junie Oldham is more than a little strange--but is she actually dangerous?

She's unique, to say the least. Junie Oldham is a middle-aged hoarder who knits sweaters for cats, befriends rescued mice, and pretends to be a recovering alcoholic so she can socialize at AA meetings. Living among the piles of childhood treasures in the home she inherited, she also hangs on to a few resentments--not all of them innocuous.

When a chance encounter with Blake Patton, her high school crush, presents Junie with an opportunity to reconnect with the guy who helped set her on her solitary path, she's ready to go to any length to become part of his life again. Blake doesn't recognize the girl he mocked as "Old Ham" in high school, and his wife is delighted to find such a good math tutor for their daughter. Now Junie has full access to their perfect suburban home. She's already hiding plenty of secrets of her own, but what's hiding in the Patton household?

As the lies unravel and old scars resurface, the Pattons' seemingly happy facade starts to crack open, and it's only a matter of time before everything comes crashing down. Because Junie's waited more than twenty years for the real story to come out, and if she can't get to the truth, there's going to be trouble . . .

From the Edgar Award-nominated author of On a Quiet Street, this hypnotic and razor-sharp psychological thriller about obsession, identity, and the cost of being overlooked is perfect for fans of Baby Reindeer, Gone Girl, and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.

Review Quotes

"Glass has created a memorable train-wreck character: pathetic and horrifying, but one who can't be ignored. Bonus: It's a fast read with a great ending. Cringy, amusing, terrifying. The complete package." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Gleefully grim . . . A brisk, efficient thrill ride that refuses to pull its punches." --Publishers Weekly

"Glass is back with another thriller that readers will devour." --Booklist

"Glass really takes readers for a ride . . . Completely mad or genius or both, Junie is a character with purpose that I will not forget." --firstCLUE

About the Author

Seraphina Nova Glass is a bestselling author, an award-winning playwright, and an assistant professor of instruction and playwright-in-residence at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she teaches film studies and playwriting. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in dramatic writing from Smith College and a second MFA in directing from the University of Idaho.

Her novel On a Quiet Street was nominated for an Edgar Award and was featured in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, and Bustle. Glass is a proud dog mom and loves to travel the world with her husband. She resides in Dallas, Texas.