The Reliable Narrator - Softcover

Sammon, Grace

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1662969899 ISBN 13: 9781662969898

Publisher: UpStream Press, 2026

Synopsis

Darby Small has made invisibility an art. As one of New York’s most sought-after ghostwriters, she tells other people’s stories so seamlessly they forget she was ever there. In an age of AI-generated prose, she is prized for what machines cannot do: capture a voice so authentic it feels lived-in. For Darby, disappearing into other lives is both her superpower and her refuge.

Then comes a late-night message from Phoebe Zaslove, Darby’s truest friend—fearless, magnetic, and now terminally ill. For reasons Darby cannot name, the women have not spoken in a year. But Phoebe is running out of time and makes one final request: Write my story.

Set between the wooded banks of New York’s Hudson River and Albuquerque’s lush North Valley, The Reliable Narrator is a layered, emotionally charged novel about the unbreakable bond between friends, the legacies carried from mothers to daughters, and the truths we bury to survive. As Darby walks Phoebe into the last chapter of her life, she is forced to confront her own traumas, her family’s silences, and the realization that fragments of her truth have been hiding in plain sight in every book she has ever ghostwritten.

With piercing insight and lyrical prose, The Reliable Narrator asks:

What stories do we inherit? Which do we dare to tell? What is the price of silence?

Because some truths aren’t hidden, they are simply waiting to be claimed.

About this title

About the Author

Grace Sammon is a dynamic force in the literary world-an award-winning author, radio host, entrepreneur, and educator. Recognized in Who's Who in Education and Who's Who in Literature, she is the recipient of the 2025 Indies United Publishing House's Award for Inspirational Women in Literature, Media, and Journalism.

A master of reinvention, Grace transformed her career with her fourth book and debut novel, The Eves, which garnered strong critical acclaim. In addition to The Reliable Narrator, she has authored seven books, including the three-book LAUNCH PAD series, which guides writers through the journey of writing, publishing, and marketing their books.

She has served as a Guardian ad Litem for neglected and abused children and as a hospice worker. She is currently a committee member for the Safe Children's Coalition. Grace is firmly committed to helping others leave their mark on the world-because when our stories are told, everything changes! Her current works in progress include two new radio shows and a novel.

Grace lives on Florida's west coast with her husband and a small herd of imaginary llamas-because every storyteller needs a touch of magic. Learn more at GraceSammon.net.

Edition details

• Publisher: UpStream Press
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1662969899
• ISBN 13: 9781662969898
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 364