Wit's End

A Novel

By: Karen Joy Fowler

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

"[A] delightful and eccentric new tale"(The Boston Globe) from the author of the runaway bestseller The Jane Austen Book Club

In Karen Joy Fowler's newest novel, the bestselling author of The Jane Austen Book Club once again delivers top-notch storytelling, creating characters both oddball and endearing in a voice that is utterly and memorably her own. Wit's End is a clever, playful novel about finally allowing oneself to grow up-with a dash of mystery thrown in.

At loose ends and weary from her recent losses-the deaths of an inventive if at times irritating father and her beloved brother-Rima Lansill comes to Wit's End, the home of her legendary godmother, bestselling mystery writer Addison Early, to regroup...and in search of answers. For starters, why did Addison name one of her characters-a murderer-after Rima's father? But Addison is secretive and feisty, so consumed with protecting her famous fictional detective, Maxwell Lane, from the vagaries of the Internet that-rumor has it- she has writer's block. As one woman searches for truth, the other struggles to control the reality of her fiction.

Rima soon becomes enmeshed in Addison's household of eccentrics: a formerly alcoholic cook and her irksome son, two quirky dog-walkers, a mysterious stalker, the tiny characters that populate Addison's dollhouse crime-scene replicas, and even Maxwell Lane himself. But, wrapped up in a mystery that may or may not be of her own creation, Rima discovers to her surprise that the ultimate solution to this puzzle is the new family she has found at the house called Wit's End.

Playfully exploring the blurred boundaries between reality and virtual reality, fiction and fact, Karen Joy Fowler subverts the whodunit and gives us a thoroughly modern meta-mystery with wit, warmth, and heart.©2008 Karen Joy Fowler; (P)2008 Penguin

Critic reviews

Praise for Wit's End

“Fowler's understated wit and storytelling skills are in full flower.”—The Boston Globe

“[A] Rubik's cube of a book...this is venturesome work.”—The Seattle Times

“Fowler's subtle humor glides across these pages.”—The Washington Post

“[A] cyber-gothic-mystery-romance (you heard it coined here), and it's a lovely read.”—The Sunday Oregonian

Two clever female characters, one young, one old

What made the experience of listening to Wit's End the most enjoyable?

I love listening (again and again) to the point of view of the main character, Rima, as she struggles to fit in to the household of her godmother, Addison, whom she hardly knows. Addison seems somewhat intimidating at first, but gradually becomes less so as Rima discovers her fascinating past. I found myself gradually become more anxious for the young Addison than for Rima herself. Addison has become one of my literary heroes. There are also wonderful male characters that we get to know as Rima explores the connection between Addison's mystery novels and the real world.

What did you like best about this story?

Santa Cruz, California comes alive in both the present and the past as Rima explores the connection between an old religious colony in the Santa Cruz hills and her own family. The writing is excellent.

Which scene was your favorite?

There are so many wonderful scenes that I couldn't possibly pick one. Every scene is packed with atmosphere, revelations, and Rima's intelligent reactions.

If you could take any character from Wit's End out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Addison. I'd hope some of her talent for living would rub off on me.

Any additional comments?

This is a brilliant novel. If you're looking for a romance novel, this isn't for you. If you're interested in intelligent characters, this book is for you.