Ellen Pall Boeken

Brought together by the sudden return of the erudite father who abandoned them nearly thirty years ago, the five Ginzburg children reunite in mid-life. Gifted and ambitious, competitive and funny, the siblings grudgingly put their complicated lives on hold to spend a weekend at the Catskills farmhouse that was once their summer home. Swept instantly into the treacherous, bittersweet tangle of old family alliances and resentments, they skirmish, match wits and rehash the past, meanwhile trying for all they're worth to ignore the ominous drumbeat of the passing hours--for their long-lost father, suffering from leukemia, is in the last moments of his life. With sharp wit and passionate empathy, Ellen Pall explores the innermost secrets of an engaging family as its strength is put to the test.

The story follows Liz Miller, a struggling Ph.D. candidate who becomes homeless after her boyfriend leaves her. Couch-surfing at her best friend's place, she discovers a life-changing Craigslist ad for a room in a Greenwich Village apartment, where the tenant must read aloud to the sight-impaired landlady, Anne Taussig Weil. As Liz navigates this unexpected arrangement, she uncovers Weil's past and the connection to her own academic goals, revealing a complex tale of love and ambition intertwined with literary history.

Melanie, a disillusioned songwriter, returns to New York from California, seeking to revive her career and reconnect with her family. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Lucian, a young actor entangled in a complicated relationship with Martin Ivory. Set against the backdrop of a sweltering July, Melanie navigates familial tensions as her mother struggles with her own life changes. This debut novel explores the bittersweet realities of love and acceptance through Melanie's ironic yet heartfelt perspective, highlighting the emotional costs of relationships.

This new series is inspired by the Nine Muses of Greek mythology. Novelist Juliet Bodine helps a friend mount a production of "Great Expectations" with a Manhattan ballet company. In a world of intense backstage rivalry and competing agendas, Juliet is soon suspected in a dancer's death. Juliet turns to Brooklyn detective Murray Landis for help to clear her name and catch a killer. Martin's Press. (August)