Secrets of eden how does it end

My first introduction to this author was "Skeletons at the Feast", which so impressed me that I followed it with many more of his boooks. This could not compare with that first book, or others. It is a tale of wife battering and alcoholism and the effects of these abuses on famil I have been an avid follower of Chris Bohjalian's writing for a long time. It is a tale of wife battering and alcoholism and the effects of these abuses on family, friends and the community.

The novel is divided into sections with the story narrated by four different characters,the pastor who is experiencing a crisis of faith, the DA, a popular author and the daughter of the deceased couple. These people were, for the most part believable, with some exceptions. The acclaimed author, whose specialty was angels, was an unlikable annoyance for me. Her role seemed extraneous and only served as an useless distraction for certain characters.

In fact, as I further analyze my reaction to this novel, I realize that her presence is the factor which caused my negative reactions to "The Secrets of Eden".

The disillusioned pastor could have been further expanded, although his personna was well described. The DA was a tough, unbending woman. The teen-aged daughter's grief was vividly portrayed and her voice rang true. Bohjalian's narrative is often compelling, always clearly descriptive and well researched.

Although I had some glimmers of the conclusion, he withheld the answers to the mystery until the final pages with an unexpected twist. It is clear to me, one who has visited Vermont many times, that this author knows and loves his home.

His vivid descriptions of the scenery, the foliage and the ambiance of this beautiful state certainly shine through! View all 31 comments. Jul 16, Steve Lindahl rated it it was amazing. I listened to the audio version of Chris Bohjalian's novel Secrets of Eden and want to recommend it highly.

There are multiple readers who all do an excellent job. It's perfect for a long commute, although I found myself driving an extra block or two a couple of times when I couldn't stop listening. Many writing instructors, especially those who are teaching beginning courses, tell writers to show rather than tell.

It's a bit of advice that has always irritated me, because it simplifies the proce I listened to the audio version of Chris Bohjalian's novel Secrets of Eden and want to recommend it highly. It's a bit of advice that has always irritated me, because it simplifies the process way too much. Good writers balance their stories with telling and showing , using what is appropriate for each situation. Secrets of Eden is a perfect example of a book where telling is most often the proper choice.

Bohjalian has separated the book into four parts, each narrated by a different character. They tell the story from their point of view in a way that adds to the suspense while painting a full picture of their personalities. I'm going to recommend this book to my book club, because it's perfect for discussions.

The topics include faith crisis, domestic abuse, and the difference between over-the-top spiritual beliefs and conventional religion. I could see us talking for days on any one of those subjects.

I've also read and loved The Double Bind and Skeletons at the Feast , but I'm going to choose this one to suggest to our group. The story is about a murder suicide that occurs in a small Vermont town. The murder victim is a member of a Baptist church. Her death and the circumstances surrounding it deeply affect the minister of that church.

I don't want to say much more than that. If you want spoilers you'll have to go to another review. Mar 24, Elyse Walters rated it liked it Shelves: fiction , mystery-thriller-crime. I enjoyed 'Secrets of Eden' I was engaged with every part of the book but I'll my 'least' favorite section was when Prosecutor Catherine Beninocasa takes over being the narrator from Pastor Stephen Drew.

I wasn't ready for a 'change' of voice I felt this section of the book needed better editing. To leave Stephen Drew's voice out of the story for as long as was done was just too long. Do you know this is how my mind works a couple of times I started thinking we would come to the end of the book and still not know who killed 'George' it was pretty clear who killed Alice because with all 'spiritual' aura from Heather Laurent , for example-- it might just have been possible My mind was doing tricks with this book In time I got with the program with the style of the writing --but I did have to let go of wanting things my way I didn't guess the ending until maybe 10 pages before the 'very' end at which point that doesn't count.

It was GOOD! Besides --The teenager, Katie had a black t-shirt with a Chihuahua on it. How cool is that? Its these little things we read in books which connect us to our lives that add pleasure, too!

Shelves: books-by-friends , work-review-related-reading. I had the privilege of getting to read a very early, pre-final-edit manuscript of this book, and I am SO glad, because now I can be among the first to tell everyone how fabulous it is! Once again, Bohjalian creates big, believable drama in a small town Vermont setting.

This time it involves a preacher who is losing his faith, two deaths and plenty of mystery of the "whodoneit" variety. It is interesting to read a book where two dead people are very much central characters and seeing the plot blo I had the privilege of getting to read a very early, pre-final-edit manuscript of this book, and I am SO glad, because now I can be among the first to tell everyone how fabulous it is! It is interesting to read a book where two dead people are very much central characters and seeing the plot bloom through the memories, observations and reactions of their neighbors.

All of these characters just jump off the page, so it's very easy to picture them and think that they are your neighbors too. You become invested in their pain and bewilderment even as you try to figure out just what they are NOT telling you.

And the ending The character of the minister starts out with a somewhat weary-of-his-pathetic-excuse-for-parishioners recounting of the typical Sunday whinings mixed with more heartwarming stories told by recipien "The Buffalo Soldier" was the first of Bohjalian's books I've read, which was followed by "Midwives" and "Double Bind" The character of the minister starts out with a somewhat weary-of-his-pathetic-excuse-for-parishioners recounting of the typical Sunday whinings mixed with more heartwarming stories told by recipients of the kindness of the Women's Circle equating them to the angels among us.

For the first portion of this book, I was compelled to read on by the hint of a promise to the return to Bohjalian's former ability to weave a spell with his words. While he remains in the minister's narrative, at least initially, he doesn't veer too far from this path.

Enter the character of Heather Laurent and it changes swiftly enough. It isn't simply that Heather Laurent believes in literal Angels walking among us, or that her character is a supposedly well known "new age" author of some renown, the character is simply too annoying to not be a detriment to enjoying a large portion of the story by her mere presence.

Perhaps this was what Bohjalian was striving for, but it seems unlikely. I read this a few years ago. It was good but not as good as Midwives.

It takes forever for me to get myself fully involved in his books.. Because the final chapters of the book will punch me in the gut and leave me shaking my head in awe.

That's what keeps me reading. Books that, if I would have only read the first half, I would have given stars of rating get stars from me by the end of the book. This is mystery as it should be written, unraveled slowly, bits and pieces of information fed to you from various angles and a conclusion that will leave you reeling. Secrets of Eden is the story of a double-death. The death of an abused woman and her husband. She, by strangulation and he, by gunshot. The story is broken into four sections and told by four separate, but very connected individuals.

Pieces of information are given to you from each point of view and.. It was interesting, I hadn't intended to pick this book up meaning to read another book before it but I chose to because of the disappointment I'd had in the book I'd read before it.

I wanted a real mystery, something that would jar me and make me think. This book did just that. Nov 17, Vanessa rated it liked it. I found the premise of this book fascinating due to the moral and spiritual implications, this one kept my interest I did love the set up, having the opening of the book be told by the Pastor of this small town in Vermont you really took him at face value.. There is a propensity to want to believe a man of honour and a man of the cloth as the story unravels and your belief in him gets obliterated it makes you question the integrity of people's true character and you really become cynical about humanity.

How easily people lie and how quickly people make excuses for their irrepressible behaviour and how easily people can fall from grace. We know people are infallible but are we all capable of being good as well as evil? The ending was ok and wrapped it up for me in a way that made me happy as I was pretty quick to condemn certain characters and it made some actions seem redeemable.

From reading some reviews apparently this is not this authors best book but not having read any others I can honestly say I still enjoyed it. Aug 02, Suze rated it really liked it.

Beginning with the deaths of Alice and George Hayward in an apparent murder-suicide, the story devolves into a mystery when it becomes apparent that George died by a hand other than his own. Told from the perspectives of four characters who are very different from one another, the book reveals interesting personality traits of each, yet keeps each character enigmatic enough that I was pondering some o "Secrets of Eden," my third Chris Bohjalian book, reinforced why I'm such a fan of this author.

Told from the perspectives of four characters who are very different from one another, the book reveals interesting personality traits of each, yet keeps each character enigmatic enough that I was pondering some of their motivations long after the book was finished. Stephen Drew, Alice's minister, who knew intimate details of George's physical and verbal abuse, was a particularly intriguing character. Though beloved by his congregation, he kept himself apart from them and, the book reveals, was Alice's former lover.

He quickly becomes a "person of interest" in the crime. Bohjalian typically reserves a surprise for the end of each of his books, and "Secrets of Eden" was no exception. Well worth reading. Sep 20, Barbara Nutting rated it it was amazing. This book had to take a backseat to the news. I am obsessed with the story of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie - it is more mysterious than any book I have read, including this one.

This real life drama has more twists and turns than a wine bottle corkscrew!! Ironically this book deals with spousal abuse that leads to murder. Fiction mirroring the news story. I was alternating between the book and my iPad, so I recognized t This book had to take a backseat to the news. I was alternating between the book and my iPad, so I recognized the different forms abuse can take and the horrendous results.

As usual, Mr Bohjalian has handled the theme without making it sensationalized. He is fast becoming one of my favorites. View all 3 comments. Sep 18, Book Concierge rated it really liked it Shelves: library , religion , family , audio , concierge , murder. He is tormented by his inability to stop the tragedy, and tortured by a sense of guilt. The investigation quickly focuses on Stephen Drew and keeps everyone in a state of turmoil. Bohjalian structures the novel in four distinct parts, each narrated by a different character — Rev Stephen Drew begins the tale, followed by prosecutor Catherine Benincasa, Heather Laurent, and finally Katie Hayward, the now-orphaned teen daughter of the murdered couple.

The plot unfolds slowly in dribs and drabs, much as such a story would be revealed if it happened in your own neighborhood. The reader begins to trust and then doubt each of the narrators in turn, and little by little the truth is finally brought to light. Using different actors to voice the four sections was a very good idea for the audio book.

It really helps to differentiate the voice of each character, not just literally but figuratively. The morning after her baptism into the Rev. I liked this much better than Double Bind, but The Midwife remains my favorite by this author. Feb 25, Steven rated it really liked it Recommends it for: Mystery readers. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Secrets of Eden is a courtroom who-done-it without the courtroom. It is well written, though flawed in that you know that all sides are telling the truth and that the only way for the main suspect to be the murder is for him not to have told the truth in his section.

In ways the book is like Atonement ; the same scene is seen from many vantage points. And while the book is a who-done-it, it is also a very good character study. They ring true. I also Secrets of Eden is a courtroom who-done-it without the courtroom. I also liked the way that everyone is suspect in the eye of the law, no matter how well meaning the law is. I really liked the twist at the ending. And I knew that it had to be the daughter or the friend that did it. It is revealed only in the last two pages of the book.

And then that totally changes the veracity of all those that have been judging him, as well as the love he gives up to protect the girl. That is a really nice effect to have. It was a good read, a little more than 4 stars. Feb 18, Suzka rated it it was ok Recommended to Suzka by: library reading group. Nice touch.

Everyone felt untethered and adrift. I don't suggest that characters need to come with a Disney soundtrack and matching accessories please, no but something was missing.

I'd started another book by this author a few years ago The Buffalo Soldier but soon lost interest, and if I recall correctly, it felt the same way.

I'm fine with a villain. Her childlike shuttling between male authority figures in times of crisis made me want to shake her, while the underdeveloped daughter and disapproving best friend Lisa Ryder made me want to shake the writer and director.

It also fritters away the friendship between Alice and new-age writer Heather LaRoche Athena Karkanis , the relationship serving only to wedge the glamorous, confident Heather in as a plot device. That this effect remains unseen is yet another indication of the lazy script. Emily St. John Mandel. The Spirit of the Place. Rosamund Lupton. All Things Cease to Appear. Whistling in the Dark. Lesley Kagen. All the Birds, Singing. The Line That Held Us.

Let Me Lie. Clare Mackintosh. The Daughters of Foxcote Manor. Daisy Johnson. Krysten Ritter. Social Creature. Tara Isabella Burton. Tell Me Everything. Cambria Brockman. Rebecca Scherm. The Scent of Rain and Lightning. Nancy Pickard. The Big Door Prize. Blue Diary. Alice Hoffman. How Quickly She Disappears. Raymond Fleischmann. How to Be Lost. Amanda Eyre Ward.

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