The Story She Left Behind

A Novel

By: Patti Callahan Henry

Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Theo Solomon

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“Brilliant, riveting, so beautifully written, impossible to put down.” —Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Inspired by a true literary mystery, New York Times bestselling author of the mesmerizing The Secret Book of Flora Lea returns with the sweeping story of a legendary book, a lost mother, and a daughter’s search for them both.

In 1927, eight-year-old Clara Harrington’s magical childhood shatters when her mother, renowned author, Bronwyn Newcastle Fordham, vanishes off the coast of South Carolina. Bronwyn stunned the world with a book written in an invented language that became a national sensation when she was just twelve years old. Her disappearance leaves behind not only a devoted husband and heartbroken daughter, but also the hope of ever translating the sequel to her landmark work. As the headlines focus on the missing author, Clara yearns for something far deeper and more insatiable: her beloved mother.

By 1952, Clara is an illustrator raising her own daughter, Wynnie. When a stranger named Charlie Jameson contacts her from London claiming to have discovered a handwritten dictionary of her mother’s lost language. Clara is skeptical. Compelled by the tragedy of her mother’s disappearance, she crosses the Atlantic with Wynnie only to arrive during one of London’s most deadly natural disasters—the Great Smog. With asthmatic Wynnie in peril, they escape the city with Charlie and find refuge in the Jameson’s family retreat nestled in the Lake District. It is there that Clara must find the courage to uncover the truth about her mother and the story she left behind.

“Graceful in its telling and so very wise in its insights, The Story She Left Behind is a book that will capture your heart, lift your spirits, and delight your soul” (William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author).

Critic reviews

"This mystery explores the emotions felt by the family of a young American novelist who vanished 25 years earlier. Daughter Clara, skillfully portrayed by Julia Whelan, receives a cryptic phone call informing her that she must personally claim her mother’s writing satchel. She steels herself and travels to London with her daughter. Once there, the two meet young executor Charlie, voiced with grace and charm by Theo Solomon, who whisks them to his family’s country home, away from the Great Smog. There, Clara’s stunning discovery upends her world. Delivering alternating points of view, both narrators give well-matched, compelling performances, including a range of American and UK accents. A clarifying author’s note narrated by Henry closes the production."

The writing

I loved the rich and complex writing. Writing your own words for emotions is a beautiful gift.

Wow! An amazing story!!

Such a beautiful story! I want so much more of this author! Do yourself a favor and read this book!

Stunningly lyrical and beautiful

This is a book I will think about for a long time after finishing. The language was eloquent and lyrical, but the story itself was also captivating. This is a gorgeous story of love, forgiveness, and appreciation of art and nature. It examines what it means to be family and what we do for those we love. The landscape of both South Carolina and Cumbria are characters in the novel and the descriptions make me want to visit both. This was a unique story that wound history with charm and whimsy.

This is the best book I’ve listened to this year. Enjoy!

Loved everything about it. I was captivated within the first ten minutes. I especially loved Winnie.

Beautiful imagery and use of words.

The thing I love most about this book is how beautifully it represented the relationship between a mother and her only child daughter, as I have a very special relationship with my only child daughter. As a little girl my daughter loved when I read to her the stories of Beatrix Potter. We also share a love of the coastal lands off Georgia and North Carolina—and we love visiting England almost as much. This book was a wonderful mixture of all these things!