The Stolen Book of Evelyn Aubrey: A Novel

by Serena Burdick

Overview

What if you could write a new ending for yourself?

England, 1898. When Evelyn first married the famous novelist William Aubrey, she was dazzled by his brilliance. But their newlywed bliss is brief when William is gripped by writer’s block, and he becomes jealous of Evelyn’s writing talent. When he commits the ultimate betrayal—stealing a draft of her novel and passing it off as his own—Evelyn decides to write her way out of their unhappy marriage.

California, 2006. Abigail always wondered about her father, his identity forever lost when her mother unexpectedly died. Or so Abigail thought, until she stumbled upon his photo and a message that her great-great-grandmother was the author Evelyn Aubrey, leading Abigail on a journey to England in search for answers. There, she learns of Evelyn’s shocking disappearance and how London society believed she was murdered. But from what she uncovers about Evelyn, Abigail believes her brilliant great-great-grandmother had another plot up her sleeve.

Rich in atmosphere and emotion, The Stolen Book of Evelyn Aubrey tells the story of literary secrets, a family curse and the lengths women will go to take charge of their future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780778333104
Publisher:	Park Row Books
Publication date:	11/01/2022
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	59,113
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Serena Burdick Graduated from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in California before moving to New York City to pursue a degree in English Literature at Brooklyn College. Author of GIRL IN THE AFTERNOON, she lives in Western Massachusetts with her husband and two sons.

Editorial Reviews

10/01/2022

This gothic-tinged book from Burdick (The Girls with No Names) focuses on two women in two eras: Evelyn, a newly married Englishwoman at the turn of the 20th century; and Abby, a Californian in 2008 who is still reeling over her mother's death in the late 1990s. Abby has never known who her father is, so she's surprised when she finds an old photo of her mother with a man with Abby's red hair. The picture leads her to discover that her father may have been a descendant of Evelyn, the wife of the famous writer William Aubrey. In Evelyn's own time, she marries William in wild passion, only slowly discovering that William is jealous of her writing ability, eventually stealing her work to publish under his name. Worst of all, Abby learns that Evelyn died under mysterious circumstances. Abby flies to England and works to untangle the mysteries of Evelyn's life, hoping that the trail will lead to her unknown father. VERDICT The plot twists in the book occasionally stretch the bounds of believability, but readers who love novels filled with family secrets, decrepit mansions, and long-lost journals will enjoy.—Jennie Mills

Library Journal

In The Stolen Book of Evelyn Aubrey Serena Burdick deftly entwines the lives of two fascinating women, 100 years apart. Part coming of age, part literary mystery, part family saga, this gorgeously written and emotionally rich novel is filled with deeply compelling characters, beautiful prose, and a mystery that kept me turning the pages. A haunting meditation on what it means to be a woman and an artist and ultimately what it means to find your place in the world—I devoured this book.” —Jillian Cantor, USA Today bestselling author of Beautiful Little Fools

"A cleverly-crafted and beautifully written multi-layered mystery of family secrets, jealousy, passion and revenge. Seductive, unsettling and thoroughly absorbing, I stepped into the pages of Evelyn Aubrey's world and didn't want to leave. Serena Burdick, take a bow. Marvellous.” —Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author

From the Publisher