A Sudden Light

A Novel

By: Garth Stein

Narrated by: Seth Numrich

Length: 11 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

When a boy tries to save his parents’ marriage, he uncovers a legacy of family secrets in a coming-of-age ghost story by the author of the internationally best-selling phenomenon The Art of Racing in the Rain.

In the summer of 1990, 14-year-old Trevor Riddell gets his first glimpse of Riddell House. Built from the spoils of a massive timber fortune, the legendary family mansion is constructed of giant, whole trees, and is set on a huge estate overlooking Puget Sound. Trevor’s bankrupt parents have begun a trial separation, and his father, Jones Riddell, has brought Trevor to Riddell House with a goal: to join forces with his sister, Serena, dispatch Grandpa Samuel - who is flickering in and out of dementia - to a graduated living facility, sell off the house and property for development into "tract housing for millionaires", divide up the profits, and live happily ever after.

But Trevor soon discovers there’s someone else living in Riddell House: a ghost with an agenda of his own. For while the land holds tremendous value, it is also burdened by the final wishes of the family patriarch, Elijah, who mandated it be allowed to return to untamed forestland as a penance for the millions of trees harvested over the decades by the Riddell Timber company. The ghost will not rest until Elijah’s wish is fulfilled, and Trevor’s willingness to face the past holds the key to his family’s future.

A Sudden Light is a rich, atmospheric work that is at once a multigenerational family saga, a historical novel, a ghost story, and the story of a contemporary family’s struggle to connect with each other. A tribute to the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, it reflects Garth Stein’s outsized capacity for empathy and keen understanding of human motivation, and his rare ability to see the unseen: the universal threads that connect us all.

©2014 Garth Stein (P)2014 Simon & Schuster Audio

really enjoyed listening to this book.

I was captured by the story and couldn't wait to continue it each time I had to turn it off.

Stein is in the top ten of my favorite writers

Fascinating story, cannot put down. Stein has such an unusual writing style, he takes you with him into amazing world of mystery, human emotion and action

Good Listen

Garth Stein holds you till the end!! I read "The Art Of Racing in The Rain" several years ago and loved it! This books holds your attention and you just can't stop listening. Looking forward to Garth Steins next book.

Interesting read.

The women voices should have been read by women.
It was a bit unbelievable that a the family would not sell the property because of the wishes of a ghost.
Also using words like faith and quotes from the bible, "my peace I give unto you" when talking about ghosts seemed irreverent.

An intricate story of redemption and faith.

It is beautifully written . The narration is perfect. Indeed, we are all connected.

love Garth Stein books

Stein is so skilled at taking me somewhere else. I'm always all in! What talent.

Oh my GOD!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

On my god this story is amazing I went through so many different emotions and to be read by Seth Numrich. He voice was everything!! I ran across this because I fell in love with Seth’s voice in “Fairy Tale” and the way he becomes every character. Wow!! So I was looking for another book that he narrated and came across this Diamond. It’s a most listen. A huge thank you to Garth and Seth for an amazing experience.

Family secrets die hard

What made the experience of listening to A Sudden Light the most enjoyable?

First, the narrator, Seth Numrich, who was able to read the story in a natural voice, not sounding like a machine. He captured each character distinctly and let me experience them in my mind. Also, as always, being able to take it with me and listen anytime, anywhere.

What did you like best about this story?

When Trevor discovered the real story behind Grandpa's dementia.

Which character – as performed by Seth Numrich – was your favorite?

I think, Trevor's aunt, who lived in the home with Grandpa. The way Seth spoke her voice made it obvious that she was not right in the head.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I like listening over multiple sittings for a couple of reasons; one being that I drive to work and want something good to listen to on my commute. It was like waiting for and then getting to hear the next episode in a saga.

Any additional comments?

I had not heard of Garth Stein before this, but I will definitely check out his other work. He made a good choice of narrators too.

Captivating!

The story was compelling, and I greatly enjoyed the narration. Quite pleasant to listen to.

Everything I wanted

This story touches all characteristics of what makes a story haunt me for days after it’s finished. Unpredictable, lush with detail, interesting characters, history, longing for more, love, hate, despair, mystery, mysticism, family and individual stories of characters that flow beautifully in and out of each other. I loved Racing in the Rain….and now I have another to love