A Sudden Light

A Novel

De: Garth Stein

Narrado por: Seth Numrich

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

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.

Seth Numrich’s narration once again is flawless

I search for books, narrated by Seth, even if I’ve never heard of the author. But the story was just as wonderful as the narrator! 

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

You won't be disappointed!

Narrator was perfect for the story. I was sorry the journey Garth Stein took me on had to end, but I am different having taken it. Gripping and poignant, the story is masterfully written. I just discovered Garth Stein, but now I can't wait to read his other works.

Liked the story

Ghost stories are always fun. This one was no exception. I read it at first bc I like the reader Seth Numrich, but glad I chose it for the story.

very enjoyable!!

loved it! super entertaining. great plot and narration. the narrator did great with all of the characters

Excellent narration

Extremely enjoyed hearing Seth Numrich tell the story
Reading it myself wouldn't have compared