Before and After - Softcover

Brown, Rosellen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0340666560 ISBN 13: 9780340666562

Publisher: Sceptre, 1996

Synopsis

Beautifully written, compassionate and wise, Rosellen Brown’s novel is the extraordinary story of a family’s struggle to survive the throes of a tragedy. Before and After centers on Carolyn and Ben Reiser and their two children, Judith and Jacob, who live comfortably in a small New England town. When the chief of police comes looking for seventeen-year-old Jacob to question him about the bludgeoning to death of his girlfriend, the Reisers’ lives are changed forever. Before and After is the compelling drama of the search for Jacob, his capture, and the chain of events set in motion by a brutal crime of passion. It is a story that pits parent against parent, brother against sister, family against community, blood loyalty against the law. With a flawless ear for dialogue and profound understanding of character and motive, Rosellen Brown has written a heart-wrenching novel that questions the very nature of violence in our society and our ability to ever really know our children.

About this title

From the Publisher

The Reisers were a typical American family. Two loving parents. Two bright teenagers. A lovely home in a small New England town. But then one day the doorbell rang, bringing news of a shattered crime that would turn their son into a stranger and tear their lives in half...A novel that dares us to ask how well we, as families, really know each other and ourselves...dares us to see that one event can change every-thing... dares us to confront the fine and shattering line between guilt and innocence, and between love and rage. "Powerful...provocative...an unabashed, read-until-dawn page-turner." -- The New York Times Book Review. "As gripping as a detective story...Brown is flawless." --Chicago Tribune."Chilling...as gripping as a well-spun murder mystery -- only here the mysteries are inside." --People. "Superb...Brown has outdone herself!" -- San Francisco Chronicle.

From the Inside Flap

The Reisers were a typical American family. Two loving parents. Two bright teenagers. A lovely home in a small New England town. But then one day the doorbell rang, bringing news of a shattering crime that would turn their son into a stranger and tear their lives in half. As the case unfolds, parent is pitted against parent, brother against sister, family against community.

Before and After is a novel that dares us to ask how well we, as families, really know each other and ourselves...dares us to see that one event can change everything...dares us to confront the fine--and shattering--line between guilt and innocence, between love and rage, between before and after.

Edition details

• Publisher: Sceptre
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0340666560
• ISBN 13: 9780340666562
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 368