Finding Mrs. Ford

A Novel

By: Deborah Goodrich Royce

Narrated by: Saskia Maarleveld

On a sunny summer morning by the sea in New England, Susan Ford's cocoon of privilege is threatened when an Iraqi man from her distant past boards a plane in Baghdad to come find her.

Mrs. Ford leads a privileged life. From her Blenheim spaniels to her cottage on the coast of Watch Hill, Rhode Island, she carefully curates her world. Hair in place, house in place, life in place, Susan Ford keeps it under control.

Early one morning in the summer of 2014, the past pays a call to collect. The FBI arrives to question her about a man from Iraq - a Chaldean Christian from Mosul - where ISIS has just seized control. Sammy Fakhouri, they say, is his name, and they have taken him into custody, picked him up on his way to her house.

Back in the summer of 1979, on the outskirts of a declining Detroit, college coed Susan meets charismatic and reckless Annie. They are an unlikely pair of friends, but they each see something in the other - something they'd like to possess. Studious Susan is a moth to the flame that is Annie. Yet, it is dazzling Annie who senses that Susan will be the one who makes it out of Detroit.

Together, the girls navigate the minefields of a down-market disco where they work their summer jobs. It's a world filled with pretty girls and powerful men, some of whom - like Sammy Fakhouri - happen to be Iraqi Chaldeans.

What happened in that summer of 1979 when Susan and Annie met? Why is Sammy looking for Susan all these years later? And why is Mrs. Ford lying?

Praise for Finding Mrs. Ford:

''An exquisitely written literary thriller that compels the reader forward right to the last page.'' (Patricia Chadwick, author of Little Sister)

''Written from start to finish with crisp and poignant prose, compelling characters and setting, Finding Mrs. Ford entertains as much with imagery as with its masterful plot twists. I couldn't put it down.'' (Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg, author of Eden)

''Brimming with vivid characters and emotional insight, Finding Mrs. Ford tackles big themes of identity, friendship, and loss, spinning out the suspense to the last page. A total triumph.'' (Beatriz Williams, New York Times best-selling author)

©2019 Deborah Royce (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Good story

I liked this book and remember so much of the same things being almost the same age as Susan and Annie in 1979. I never worked at a disco but remember going to them. I like how the story was told about 2 girls just working over the summer changed everything. If their paths had not connected that summer, how different it would have been for both of them.

This needed to be edited down but it was a nice listen

If it’s free or on sale, go for it. Idk if a while credit is worth the listen. It drones on a lot and it keeps the twists and turns that are there from being shocking. I did enjoy it but wouldn’t listen again or recommend it over many others.

Grabs you from the beginning and you just have to know what happens!

From the beginning, I wanted to know what happened next. I found myself going out for extra walks just to be able to listen to more of the book. It’s a story that twists and turns on itself as it’s jumps from back and forth from the past to the present to tell the story of Mrs. Ford. I loved it!

Worth the wait

This one started off a little slow but had a great twisttt in the middle I did Not see coming! Then it picked up the pace a little. I think the seemingly slowish pace is due to the story going back and forth in time. Give it a chance. It's worth it!

Rivoting

I usually listen to audible books as background noise while I'm working. With this book, I found myself stopping work just to listen. The story captivated my entire attention.
Loved it.

Wonderful story and Naration

Best Narator of all time. Makes each book wonderful. Enjoyed this story very much .

Loved it!

Plots and twists the whole time! Loved it and would read it again for sure!

Great story!!!

Devoured this. Super great story and very well written. Lots of twists and turns and back agains.

Fabulous

Wonderful how the story was woven together the end was surprising in a good way.

Mysteries, strong women and twists and turns

I listen to audible as I go to sleep at night, maybe not exactly what my sleep doctor would recommend. With this novel I would agree— if I snoozed in the slightest I’d miss a piece that required a meticulous review of previous chapters in order to follow the quickly moving plot. Tough ladies inhabit Disco bars and beautiful homes, dating old money, gangsters and handsome foreigners. The mysteries include crimes and identities lost in the past . The characters were often lovable even when the reader wasn’t sure who they were.
I totally enjoyed this novel but
It might be even more enjoyable if you listened during waking hours!