The Passing Storm

Nolfi (The Road She Left Behind) tackles the loss of a child and hints at second chances in this engrossing tale. After 33-year-old Rae Langdon’s 14-year-old daughter Lark dies in a freak accident in their small Ohio town, Rae copes with the loss by looking for someone to blame. One option is Quinn Galecki, a close friend of Lark’s who serves as a painful reminder to Rae of what she’s lost. But after Quinn’s alcoholic and physically abusive parents kick him out, Rae and her widower father Connor take him in and discover his surprising skills (particularly at gourmet cooking) and emotions (he is still grieving hard for Lark). As Rae bonds with Quinn, she tries to help him improve his life, but his parents’ abuse remains an ever-present threat. Several red herrings will surprise (and at times horrify) readers who think they’ve figured out everything about the characters and Rae’s relationship to the Galeckis. Tautly plotted, expertly characterized, and genuinely riveting, Nolfi’s emotional tour de force will capture readers’ hearts. (Nov.)