The Lost Book of Mala R.

A gypsy family, camped in 1940s Pecos County, Tex., decides to banish young Mala Rinehart, on trial before her clan because her predictions and presence appear the cause of life's woes. Meanwhile, in upscale, present-day Southern California, a woman finds Mala's notebook at a garage sale. It contains no information about the author, only pages of adages and spells for altering the direction of one's life. As the book and its spells are passed between three friends, a series of strange, unpleasant events casts a pall over their neighborhood. The friends attempt to uncover the origins of the mysterious notebook, their lives and woes now linked with that of the wartime gypsy girl. MacDowell cleverly alternates between Mala's adventure and the three friends' ordeals, but readers will have to wait patiently to find the deepest connections. Enlightening and entertaining, MacDowell's novel shows how choices and ambitions can, and sometimes should, change. (Oct.)