The Slow Waltz of Turtles

Mystery, magic, and murder abound in Pancol’s (The Yellow Eyes of Crocodiles) tantalizing novel set in modern day Paris. Swept along by her forbidden love for her sister’s husband and a string of killings, Joséphine Cortès becomes entangled in a fast-paced, dangerous dance of fate and consequence as she attempts to start a new life after being left by her husband. As the Cortès women—Joséphine; her daughters, Zoé and Hortense; and her sister, Iris—embark on their own paths of self-discovery, they are forced to confront some of the most unsavory truths about love, loss, and triumph. But when tragedy strikes and a succession of violent crimes are committed on Joséphine’s doorstep, she has no idea whether she can trust those around her, or save her family. Everyone has something to hide and no one is above suspicion in this slow, calculated game of secrets. Fans of tightly organized suspense will consume each word with bated breath while figuring out who will be caught holding the bloody knife, and who will be left alive to tell the tale. Combining witty prose and breezy wisdom, Pancol’s sensational novel is a shape-shifting mystery that will please fans of whodunits and family dramas. (Nov.)