Rowing in Eden

by Barbara Rogan

Sam is not the only tormented soul in the tiny upstate village of Old Wickham. There's also Peter Quinn, a brilliant, troubled fourteen-year-old with quick fists, no past, and a truckload of attitude. Although a judge found him innocent, Peter knows better. Some things, he figures, "it don't matter why you did 'em, only that you did 'em."
On its surface, Old Wickham, New York, is a Norman Rockwell montage of red-cheeked youngsters skating on ponds, dogs frolicking in the snow, and villagers huddled around wood-burning stoves. Yet someone in this idyllic community has been setting fires. Suspicions divide the village along the usual fault lines. Scapegoats are sought, outsiders shunned. The back room of the country store gives rise to a Greek chorus of collective rage. In this crucible of distrust, unlooked-for alliances are forged, old alliances are tested, and no one emerges unchanged.

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Barbara Rogan is the author of eight novels, including SUSPICION and HINDSIGHT (Simon & Schuster). Her next novel, A DANGEROUS FICTION, is the first in a new mystery series set in the high-stakes world of big publishing. It will be published in July 2013 by Viking/Penguin.

Her books have been translated into a dozen languages, featured by the major book clubs, optioned for movie and television and issued as audio books and ebooks.

Barbara has also worked extensively in publishing. She started as an editor for a large New York publisher. After moving to Israel, she was the founder and, for 12 years, director of the Barbara Rogan Literary Agency. During that period, she served on the Board of Directors of the Jerusalem Book Fair.

After returning to the U.S., Barbara taught fiction writing at Hofstra University and SUNY. She currently teaches for Writers Digest University and in her own online school, Next Level Workshops. She's a frequent lecturer on both the business and craft of writing and teaches seminars and master classes at writers' conferences.

Reviews

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest: this book was very difficult for me to start reading. It begins with the protagonist just having helped his wife, dying of terminal cancer, commit suicide. Although I've never been in that situation, just the descriptions of his wife's body brought back some memories I'd rather leave to rest. I'm very glad, though, that I continued reading.

Set in a small town near Albany, NY, Rogan explores the nature of community, the meaning of family, and the havoc that personal ghosts can wreak on a person's future. The characterizations and relationships were both detailed and real. A truly marvellous example of the suspense novel. I definitely want to read more of Rogan's work.

[Sajeev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Foster children/parenting, widower healing from death of wife, small town living, and an arsonist make up this easily read book. I reccomend it for a rainy afternoon read.

[Carol Cronin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book in 3 days and wished it had been longer. Small town, big attitudes, and characters that felt like my best friends—even when I didn't particularly like what they were doing. Recommended for anyone who likes stories that could be described as "quiet" but still manage to hook us and take us for an excellent ride.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mercy killing, redemption and love.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well crafted plot, interesting characters and Columbia County NY setting -- near and dear to current and former Albany, NY residents like myself.

[Zan Marie Steadham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must Read for how a professional weaves plot, 3-D characters, internals, and dialog into a wonderful story.