The Map of True Places

Zee Finch has come a long way from a motherless childhood spent stealing boats--a talent that earned her the nickname, Trouble. She's now a respected psychotherapist working with the world-famous Dr. Liz Mattei. She's also about to marry one of Boston's most eligible bachelors. But the suicide of Zee's patient Lilly Braedon throws Zee into emotional chaos and takes her back to places she thought she'd left behind. What starts as a brief visit home to Salem after Lilly's funeral becomes the beginning of a larger journey for Zee. Her father, Finch, long ago diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, has been hiding how sick he really is. His longtime companion, Melville, has moved out, and it now falls to Zee to help her father through this difficult time. Their relationship, marked by half-truths and the untimely death of her mother, is strained and awkward. Overwhelmed by her new role, and uncertain about her future, Zee destroys the existing map of her life and begins a new journey, one that will take her not only into her future but into her past as well. Like the sailors of Old Salem who navigated by looking at the stars, Zee has to learn to find her way through uncharted waters to the place she will ultimately call home.

Review :
"Barry's considerable latest delves into the long-lingering effects of a mother's suicide...This is a lovingly told story with many well-drawn characters, who sooner or later reconsider the courses charted by personal decisions and circumstance." -- "Publishers Weekly" "Like her hit debut, The Lace Reader, Barry's second novel features an involving, intricately woven story and vivid descriptions of historic Salem." -- "Booklist" "Masterfully woven with a cast of unforgettable characters set loose in a world so specific and real, The Map of True Places is a gripping quest for truth that kept me reading at the edge of my seat to the very last page." -- "Lisa Genova, New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice" "The meditations on American history, assisted suicide, reincarnation, and celestial navigation are informative and even endearing...The voice behind the plot turns is both likable and engaging." -- "Washington Post" "This woman-in-jeopardy thriller retooled with gothic elements--shifting identities, secrets and portents, a deserted cottage and a missing suicide note--manages to transcend." -- "Kirkus (starred review)" "Zee's a vulnerable, likable character, and the dramatic narrative brings her experience to life...readers will be perched on the edge of their seats while consuming this mesmerizing, suspenseful tale." -- "Library Journal"