Henry and Rachel
Henry never expected to fall in love again after his wife died in childbirth. Their courtship, marriage, and honeymoon all passed in the blink of an eye, and his heart still ached for her. Still, the West Indies was full of eligible women, and Henry dutifully attended a variety of social events. It wasn’t until he laid eyes on Rachel, the mysterious girl employed by Mr. George, that he believed his heart could be full again. Years later, when Rachel and their children flee the home they shared, Henry is forced to pick up the pieces of his life and finally discover the truth about Rachel. Saville used primary sources found in old letters to flesh outHenry and Rachel, the touching story of a couple’s shared betrayals, discoveries, and reconnections. Saville allows readers to gradually piece together Rachel’s history by breaking up the chronology of the story through flashbacks and alternate narrators. Fans of Anita Shreve and Gaynor Arnold will enjoy Saville’s poetic, lyrical voice, and the lush West Indies provide a gorgeous setting for this tender, poignant debut novel. —Stephanie Turza