The Widow's House - by Carol Goodman (Paperback)

About the Book

"When Jess and Clare Martin move from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to their former college town in the Hudson River valley, they are hoping for rejuvenation--of their marriage, their savings, and Jess's writing career ... But their new life isn't all quaint town libraries and fragrant apple orchards. There is a haunting pall that hangs over Riven House like a funeral veil. Something is just not right. Soon Clare begins to hear babies crying at night [and] see strange figures in fog at the edge of their property"--Amazon.com.

Book Synopsis

WINNER OF THE 2018 MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD

This chilling novel from the bestselling, award-winning author of The Lake of Dead Languages blends the gothic allure of Daphne DuMaurier's Rebecca and the crazed undertones of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper with the twisty, contemporary edge of A.S.A. Harrison's The Silent Wife--a harrowing tale of psychological suspense set in New York's Hudson Valley.

When Jess and Clare Martin move from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to their former college town in the Hudson River valley, they are hoping for rejuvenation--of their marriage, their savings, and Jess's writing career.

They take a caretaker's job at Riven House, a crumbling estate and the home of their old college writing professor. While Clare once had dreams of being a writer, those plans fell by the wayside when Jess made a big, splashy literary debut in their twenties. It's been years, now, since his first novel. The advance has long been spent. Clare's hope is that the pastoral beauty and nostalgia of the Hudson Valley will offer some inspiration.

But their new life isn't all quaint town libraries and fragrant apple orchards. There is a haunting pall that hangs over Riven House like a funeral veil. Something is just not right. Soon, Clare begins to hear babies crying at night, see strange figures in fog at the edge of their property. Diving into the history of the area, she realizes that Riven House has a dark and anguished past. And whatever this thing is--this menacing force that destroys the inhabitants of the estate--it seems to be after Clare next...

From the Back Cover

From the bestselling, award-winning author of The Lake of Dead Languages comes this harrowing tale of psychological suspense set in New York's Hudson Valley.

When Jess and Clare Martin move from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, to their former college town in the Hudson River Valley, they are hoping for rejuvenation--of their marriage, their savings, and Jess's writing career.

They take a caretaker's job at Riven House, a crumbling estate and the home of their old college writing professor. While Clare once had dreams of being a writer, those plans fell by the wayside when Jess made a big, splashy literary debut in their twenties. But it's been years, now, since his first novel, and the advance has long been spent. Clare's hope is that the pastoral beauty and nostalgia of the Hudson Valley will offer him inspiration.

But their new life isn't all quaint town libraries and fragrant apple orchards. There is a haunting pall that hangs over Riven House like a funeral veil. Something is just not right. Soon, Clare begins to hear babies crying at night and see strange figures in the fog at the edge of their property. Diving into the history of the area, she discovers that Riven House has a dark and anguished past. And whatever this thing is--this menacing force that destroys the inhabitants of the estate--it seems to be after Clare next . . .

Review Quotes

Praise for River Road: "Like Donna Tartt's Secret History or a good film noir...will keep readers hooked." -- People

"Goodman expertly melds the psychological thriller and academic mystery into a compelling story of revenge and grief." -- Lisa Ko, author of The Leavers

"Carol Goodman is, simply put, a stellar writer." -- Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of The Red Hunter

"Blends a perfect gothic premise...with modern mysterious twists....I couldn't put it down but I didn't want it to end." -- Wendy Webb, bestselling and award-winning author of The Vanishing

"Foreboding and moody...As you're pulled deeper into its crumbling corridors and gothic history, you'll never guess where its true threats lie." -- Miranda Beverly-Whittemore, New York Times bestselling author of Bittersweet and June