Long Black Veil

A Novel

De: Jennifer Finney Boylan

Narrado por: Jennifer Finney Boylan

Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2017

For fans of Donna Tartt and Megan Abbott, a novel about a woman whose family and identity are threatened by the secrets of her past, from the New York Times bestselling author of She's Not There

On a warm August night in 1980, six college students sneak into the dilapidated ruins of Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary, looking for a thrill. With a pianist, a painter and a teacher among them, the friends are full of potential. But it’s not long before they realize they are locked in—and not alone. When the friends get lost and separated, the terrifying night ends in tragedy, and the unexpected, far-reaching consequences reverberate through the survivors’ lives. As they go their separate ways, trying to move on, it becomes clear that their dark night in the prison has changed them all. Decades later, new evidence is found, and the dogged detective investigating the cold case charges one of them—celebrity chef Jon Casey— with murder. Only Casey’s old friend Judith Carrigan can testify to his innocence.

But Judith is protecting long-held secrets of her own – secrets that, if brought to light, could destroy her career as a travel writer and tear her away from her fireman husband and teenage son. If she chooses to help Casey, she risks losing the life she has fought to build and the woman she has struggled to become. In any life that contains a “before” and an “after,” how is it possible to live one life, not two?

Weaving deftly between 1980 and the present day, and told in an unforgettable voice, Long Black Veil is an intensely atmospheric thriller that explores the meaning of identity, loyalty, and love. Readers will hail this as Boylan’s triumphant return to fiction.

Thoroughly Enjoyable

I am so happy I found this book for my book group. It is so nice to find a primary character that is Trans, not just a secondary friend or an insignificant extra. This book is engaging and thought-provoking, and not predictable at all. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Quirky but Heartfelt Thriller

I breezed through this audiobook in about a week and loved it. I warmed up to the narration pretty quickly - Boylan can't do a Maine accent to save her LIFE but is still so enjoyable to listen to, especially when it comes to her dialogue! The story itself has some really wonderful dreamlike scenes, some real tension, and a lot of fascinating POV sections for the different characters. This story has a Shirley Jackson-esque gothic feeling more than a Donna Tartt dark academia vibe, and a really interesting cast, including unapologetically making the major protagonist an older trans woman. You'll get really attached to Jon Casey, Benny, Jake, and Judith. Approach with an open mind and you'll find a total gem.

A great story

I have long been a fan of Jennifer Finney Boylan’s writing, having read her memoir many years ago, then circling back to earlier works. She’s a wonderful storyteller, and this audiobook read by the author herself, is very enjoyable.

This story is very different from what I thought.

This story is Phenomenal thank you Jennifer Boylan-Finn. Thank you very nuch narrators. Listen to this book

Solid literary mystery

Would you consider the audio edition of Long Black Veil to be better than the print version?

I love authors who read their own work, and I love narrators who don't have that old-school style. Some characters really get a chance to exist more fully when I get to hear them the way the author envisions. People who prefer a more traditional narrator may want to listen to an audio sample first to get a feel for it. I really settled in to Boylan's narration, she does great voices and accents, too.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The summary spoils some thinks about the book that I wish it wouldn't, but it's hard to write around one of the major plot points. The first-person narrator of much of the book is such a great character.

Any additional comments?

It's recommended for readers of Tartt and Abbott and they are both some of my favorites. Boylan's tone and prose may not feel much like either of theirs, but this is definitely a character-driven novel more than a crime novel and in that way it does feel apt.