What Jonah Knew

A Novel

By: Barbara Graham

Narrated by: Jane Oppenheimer, Kirby Heyborne

Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

“A spellbinding literary thriller packed with psychological suspense and profound questions about motherhood, trauma and how death illuminates life.”—Amy Tan, bestselling author of The Joy Luck Club and Where the Past Begins

“Barbara Graham is a literary alchemist. What Jonah Knew not only grabs you from the first page, it makes the mystical believable and the human predicament shine with wit, wisdom, and love.”—Tara Brach, meditation teacher and bestselling author of Radical Acceptance and Radical Compassion

A seven-year-old boy inexplicably recalls the memories of a missing 22-year-old musician in this psychological thriller about the fierce love between mothers and sons across lifetimes, a work of gripping suspense with a supernatural twist that will mesmerize fans of Chloe Benjamin and Lisa Jewell.

Helen Bird will stop at nothing to find Henry, her musician son who has mysteriously disappeared in upstate New York. Though the cops believe Henry’s absence is voluntary, Helen knows better.

While she searches for him—joined finally by police—Jonah is born to Lucie and Matt Pressman of Manhattan. Lucie does all she can to be the kind of loving, attentive mother she never had, but can’t stop Jonah’s night terrors or his obsession with the imaginary “other mom and dog” he insists are real.

Whether Jonah’s anxiety is caused by nature or nurture—or something else entirely—is the propulsive mystery at the heart of the novel.

All hell breaks loose when the Pressmans rent a summer cottage in Aurora Falls, where Helen lives. How does Jonah, at seven, know so much about Henry, Helen’s still-missing son? Is it just a bizarre coincidence? An expression of Jung’s collective unconscious? Or could Jonah be the reincarnation of Henry?

Faced with more questions than answers, Helen and Lucie set out to make sense of the insensible, a heart-stopping quest that forces them to redefine not just what it is to be a mother or a human being, but the very nature of life—and death—because of what Jonah knows.

©2022 Barbara Graham (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Entertaining

Good story. Kept me entertained, felt a little forced at times performance wise but all in all was a good listen.

Beautiful story well told and well written.

I enjoyed this book so much. It was touching, and the characters just came alive with great depth and such varied personalities. The author demonstrated that she has much wisdom about human nature and the human psyche. All of the many threads were woven expertly to create a magical tapestry of wonder by the end of this wonderful book.

A must read!

Stunning descriptions of life's trials and their surprising resolutions. Revelatory, redeeming, and rewarding. Dealing with a parent's greatest fears: the loss of a child, loss of hope, and the relief understanding the circumstances brings.

Great read!

The story was riveting, the narrator engaging and the end beautiful - a wonderful summer read

Fascinating

The premise was unique and the story engaging. I just found as often occurs, that the author wasn't 100% sure how to tie up the story so it faltered at the end. Purchased at an audible discount so worth the listen.

Stretches the Limits of Belief - Not in a Bad Way

It took me a while to get into this book. Two distinct stories going, first in in different parts of the country and then in different parts of the same state. But then they came together in a mind-stretching conclusion. The plot stretches the imagination without leaving the reader disappointed in a conclusion too fantastic to be believed.

I loved this book

I loved this book. It resonated with me in so many areas, and kept me hooked from the beginning to end. I hope to see more from this writer.

Missing Kabbalah

I am not a fan of location pieces where the location details is not correct. Grounds for Sculpture is in Central Jersey so is Holy Cow ice cream. GS doesn’t allow dogs. Lola is a brat and the preformed voices are annoying and the literary voice is simpler not “good”. AND the author totally misses the opportunity to explain this through the lens of Kabbalah and ancient Jewish traditions instead of Buddhism- which takes from ancient Jewish tradition. Total shame on that miss. Worth a listen.

captivating story of the love bw Mom and children

I was interested in listening to this book because of the premise. worth it.

Such a great premise

I love this whole concept and all of the twists and turns. Switching between the characters really helps drive the story.