Richard North Patterson
Fall From Grace
(Scribner, March 2012)
The mysterious, violent death of a prominent New England patriarch exposes a nest of dark family secrets in New York Times bestselling author Richard North Patterson’s twentieth compelling novel.
After ten years away from home, Adam Blaine returns to Martha’s Vineyard to attend the funeral of his estranged father, Ben, a famous and charismatic writer who was fond of sailboats, good wine—and women other than his wife. When Adam learns that Ben disinherited his family in favor of his mistress, he begins to wonder if his father’s death—caused by an inexplicable fall from a cliff—might have been suicide or murder. Using his training as a CIA operative, Adam unearths some shattering revelations about the mistress’s past. But even more disturbing are the family secrets that can’t stay buried any longer—secrets that make Adam question everything he thought he knew about every player in this fateful game. Even himself…
Praise for Fall from Grace
“Fall from Grace is a stunning tale of betrayal and love—family members torn apart as the possible murder of the patriarch, whose power and prestige have dominated for decades, unravels secrets and scandals against the dramatic backdrop of the unforgiving Vineyard landscape. Richard North Patterson delivers thrilling suspense every time.”
—Linda Fairstein, author of Silent Mercy
“Patterson has redefined himself as a writer willing to take risks.”
—USA Today
“A skillfully plotted murder mystery ripe with twisted, painful family dynamics, as readable and rewarding as Mr. Patterson’sforays into more dangerous corners of the world. Fall from Grace is an excellent read, an exciting mystery and character study.”
—Vineyard Gazette
“The Devil’s Light will grab you from the very first page and never let go. Patterson’s amazing storytelling is made all the better by his emotionally complex characters. I was intrigued.”
—Kathy Reichs, #1 New York Times best-selling author of 206 Bones
“Richard North Patterson is a terrific novelist.”
—The Washington Post
“Readers…will be dazzled by [Patterson’s] depth of knowledge.”
—The New York Times
Richard North Patterson is the author of over twenty bestselling and critically acclaimed novels. Formerly a trial lawyer, he was the SEC liaison to the Watergate special prosecutor and has served on the boards of several Washington advocacy groups. He lives in Martha’s Vineyard, San Francisco, and Cabo San Lucas with his wife, Dr. Nancy Clair.