Cover of Snow

A Novel

De: Jenny Milchman

Narrado por: Cassandra Campbell

WINNER OF THE MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD

Jenny Milchman’s Cover of Snow is a remarkable debut, a gripping tale of suspense in the tradition of Gillian Flynn, Chris Bohjalian, and Nancy Pickard.

Waking up one wintry morning in her old farmhouse nestled in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, Nora Hamilton instantly knows that something is wrong. When her fog of sleep clears, she finds her world is suddenly, irretrievably shattered: Her husband, Brendan, has committed suicide.

The first few hours following Nora’s devastating discovery pass for her in a blur of numbness and disbelief. Then, a disturbing awareness slowly settles in: Brendan left no note and gave no indication that he was contemplating taking his own life. Why would a rock-solid police officer with unwavering affection for his wife, job, and quaint hometown suddenly choose to end it all? Having spent a lifetime avoiding hard truths, Nora must now start facing them.

Unraveling her late husband’s final days, Nora searches for an explanation—but finds a bewildering resistance from Brendan’s best friend and partner, his fellow police officers, and his brittle mother. It quickly becomes clear to Nora that she is asking questions no one wants to answer. For beneath the soft cover of snow lies a powerful conspiracy that will stop at nothing to keep its presence unknown . . . and its darkest secrets hidden.

Praise for Cover of Snow

“Well-defined characters take us on an emotional roller-coaster ride through the darkest night, with blinding twists and occasionally fatal turns. This is a richly woven story that not only looks at the devastating effects of suicide but also examines life in a small town and explores the complexity of marriage. Fans of Nancy Pickard, Margaret Maron, and C. J. Box will be delighted to find this new author.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Milchman reveals an intimate knowledge of the psychology of grief, along with a painterly gift for converting frozen feelings into scenes of a forbidding winter landscape.”—The New York Times

“Milchman makes [readers] feel the chill right down to their bones and casts a particularly effective mood in this stylish thriller.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Milchman tackles small-town angst where evil can simmer under the surface with a breathless energy and a feel for realistic characters.”—The Seattle Times

“The plot unfolds at an excellent clip . . . ultimately rushing headlong to a series of startling revelations.”—San Francisco Journal of Books

“Milchman expertly conveys Nora’s grief in a way that will warm hearts even in the dead of a Wedeskyull winter.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Well-defined characters take us on an emotional roller-coaster ride through the darkest night, with blinding twists and occasionally fatal turns. This is a richly woven story that not only looks at the devastating effects of suicide but also examines life in a small town and explores the complexity of marriage. Fans of Nancy Pickard, Margaret Maron, and C. J. Box will be delighted to find this new author.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Milchman reveals an intimate knowledge of the psychology of grief, along with a painterly gift for converting frozen feelings into scenes of a forbidding winter landscape.”—The New York Times

“Milchman makes [readers] feel the chill right down to their bones and casts a particularly effective mood in this stylish thriller.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Milchman tackles small-town angst where evil can simmer under the surface with a breathless energy and a feel for realistic characters.”—The Seattle Times

“The plot unfolds at an excellent clip . . . ultimately rushing headlong to a series of startling revelations.”—San Francisco Journal of Books

“Milchman expertly conveys Nora’s grief in a way that will warm hearts even in the dead of a Wedeskyull winter.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Everything a great suspense novel should be—tense, emotional, mysterious, and satisfying . . . Let’s hope this is the start of a long career.”—Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Wanted Man

“Cover of Snow is a darkly atmospheric first novel that challenges all sorts of romantic notions we might harbor about small towns and the people we think we can trust. Luckily, heroine Nora Hamilton—and writer Jenny Milchman—have the skill and fortitude to lead readers through a suspenseful story of switchbacks and surprises. A mystery that will draw in fans of darker fare as well, Cover of Snow is reminiscent of Margaret Maron’s work, which is about the highest praise I can bestow.”—Laura Lippman, New York Times bestselling author of And When She Was Good

“A terrific debut.”—Harlan Coben, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Seconds Away

Outstanding Winter Thriller!

What did you love best about Cover of Snow?

I loved the taut suspense and lush sense of place. I already adore The Adirondacks, and winter is one of my favorite seasons, so this book was a real pleasure to listen to. The characterizations were superb, the writing smooth and interesting, and the fast paced action never let me take a deep breath. Loved that.

What other book might you compare Cover of Snow to and why?

This book was actually very unique, but perhaps it could be in the same category as Joan Hall Hovey's THE DEEPEST DARK.

What about Cassandra Campbell’s performance did you like?

Cassandra's voices were distinctive and consistently recognizable, and I felt the emotion of the character through her narration. Outstanding job!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

When Nora Hamilton wakes to find her husband dead one winter morning, it's just the beginning as one secret after another is revealed during a wild roller coaster ride through the snowy mountains.

Any additional comments?

I listen to a lot of "good," books, but this really stood out as one of the best in a long, long time. I keep thinking of the story - days later - and that's always a good sign! Thanks for a wonderful listen. ;o)

Predictable

Not a great read. Not a horrible review. A bit predictable and drawn out but kept my attention.

Baby it's cold outside

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Despite some predictability and lots of improbablity Milchman knows how to crank up the suspense and keep you engrossed.

What did you like best about this story?

The sense of place. Cold. Snow. Gray. I wouldn't want to live there but I enjoyed reading about it. The creepiness of the place fit the plot.

Did Cover of Snow inspire you to do anything?

Sit close by the fireplace.

dark Cover of Snow

This was the first audible I’ve listened to for any length of time, other than just quickly evaluating a narrater’s style. This narrator added to the experience.
The story had many twists, turns, unexpected events, interconnected characters..though initially I didn’t understand the connections. The plot was a bit dark; sometimes the good guys turn out bad, and the bad guys .. I didn’t fully ‘figure it out’ and that kept me focused. Good book!

Loose ends-- too many questions unanswered

Narration lacked emotion & accents
need a lot of work. Dialogue slow & simplistic. Had a lot of potential but lost it towards middle. Thankful I had whisper sink so I could read it on Kindle. Won't be recommending this book.:(