Simon Watson, a young librarian in a small New York town, receives a package from an antiquarian bookseller: a fragile, water-damaged ledger from the 1700s, which appears to be a record kept by a traveling circus. Simon discovers that his own family history connects to it, since the women of his family, who worked as mermaids in a carnival, have a tendency to drown on the same day, July 24th. With that date approaching, he races to break the pattern before his sister suffers the same fate.
It suits readers who like historical mysteries that move between timelines and include books as objects. It is a good match for fans of magical realism and circus settings.
Balanced in tone; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Story Seeker. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2015
- Language
- EN
