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Absolution
Absolution
A literary suspense novel of secrets, redemption, and one woman’s final reckoning.
Helen McAllister is dying—and with her final breath, she plans to confess her role in a crime the world never solved. For decades, she lived quietly—serving soup, tending her garden, and hiding the secret that changed everything. But now, as her illness accelerates and time runs out, Helen must confront the truth that has haunted her for years.
With her daughter racing home from across the world and a trusted priest keeping vigil by her bedside, Helen opens a wooden box containing the story of a missing girl named Anna—and her own hidden connection to one of the nation’s most chilling unsolved the 1982 Tylenol murders.
Told in dual timelines—1980s Chicago and present-day Ohio—Absolution weaves a slow-burn mystery with emotional depth, exploring guilt, legacy, and the unbearable weight of long-held secrets. What begins as a quiet confession becomes a gripping unraveling of truth, consequence, and the cost of silence.
For fans of Kristin Hannah, Diane Chamberlain, and true crime-infused fiction, E. E. Lawson’s debut What’s the price of a secret too heavy to speak aloud?
Praise for Absolution:
“Absolution was phenomenal! Crime junkies and family saga folks are going to fall in love with it!”
—Danielle Stewart, bestselling author of Three Little Lies
“As someone who remembers the Tylenol deaths, this story is so compelling. Emily is a master at dialogue.”
—Mia Sheridan, New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author
A literary suspense novel of secrets, redemption, and one woman’s final reckoning.
Helen McAllister is dying—and with her final breath, she plans to confess her role in a crime the world never solved. For decades, she lived quietly—serving soup, tending her garden, and hiding the secret that changed everything. But now, as her illness accelerates and time runs out, Helen must confront the truth that has haunted her for years.
With her daughter racing home from across the world and a trusted priest keeping vigil by her bedside, Helen opens a wooden box containing the story of a missing girl named Anna—and her own hidden connection to one of the nation’s most chilling unsolved the 1982 Tylenol murders.
Told in dual timelines—1980s Chicago and present-day Ohio—Absolution weaves a slow-burn mystery with emotional depth, exploring guilt, legacy, and the unbearable weight of long-held secrets. What begins as a quiet confession becomes a gripping unraveling of truth, consequence, and the cost of silence.
For fans of Kristin Hannah, Diane Chamberlain, and true crime-infused fiction, E. E. Lawson’s debut What’s the price of a secret too heavy to speak aloud?
Praise for Absolution:
“Absolution was phenomenal! Crime junkies and family saga folks are going to fall in love with it!”
—Danielle Stewart, bestselling author of Three Little Lies
“As someone who remembers the Tylenol deaths, this story is so compelling. Emily is a master at dialogue.”
—Mia Sheridan, New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 30, 2025
14 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
E. E. Lawson
2 books7 followersE. E. Lawson writes immersive, character-driven women’s fiction where determined heroines redraw the lines that once confined them. Born among Ohio cornfields, she has since lived in Fargo, Seattle, and—today—Rhode Island, gathering stories in every zip code. Her 2025 lineup features Absolution (June) and the 1953 holiday rom-com novella “Hurry Down the Chimney” (November).
Readers praise her writing as “lyrical without losing momentum” and her characters as “people you could bump into at the grocery store.”
When she isn’t coaxing commas into place with an espresso tea in hand, Lawson moonlights as the family chauffeur—shuttling her five sons on the never-ending carousel of school drop-offs and sideline pick-ups.
Visit www.eelawson.com for newsletter extras, free book-club kits, and limited-run signed hardcovers.
Readers praise her writing as “lyrical without losing momentum” and her characters as “people you could bump into at the grocery store.”
When she isn’t coaxing commas into place with an espresso tea in hand, Lawson moonlights as the family chauffeur—shuttling her five sons on the never-ending carousel of school drop-offs and sideline pick-ups.
Visit www.eelawson.com for newsletter extras, free book-club kits, and limited-run signed hardcovers.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 30, 2025
Absolution pulled me in and didn’t let go. I went in expecting a mystery and came out thinking about forgiveness, justice, and the weight of the past. This isn’t just a story about what happened. It’s about what it meant to the people who lived through it.
E.E. Lawson took a real event I barely knew anything about and turned it into something deeply personal and emotionally layered. The way the story weaves through time feels effortless, and the characters, especially Helen, stuck with me long after I finished. She’s complicated, flawed, and so real you feel like you know her.
It’s the kind of book that makes you pause, reflect, and want to talk about it with someone else. I’ll be recommending this one for a while. A powerful and thought-provoking debut.
E.E. Lawson took a real event I barely knew anything about and turned it into something deeply personal and emotionally layered. The way the story weaves through time feels effortless, and the characters, especially Helen, stuck with me long after I finished. She’s complicated, flawed, and so real you feel like you know her.
It’s the kind of book that makes you pause, reflect, and want to talk about it with someone else. I’ll be recommending this one for a while. A powerful and thought-provoking debut.
May 29, 2025
I had the opportunity to read this as an ARC and I am so happy I did! What a page turner! I can’t wait to bring this story to my book club. It’s emotional, thought provoking, and an all around incredible tale. I was expecting a true crime thriller, but was pleasantly surprised to read an emotionally resonant story that left me thinking about the characters long after I finished reading. This book will be the perfect discussion book! Can’t wait to see what else E. E. Lawson has to share with the world.
June 29, 2025
Compelling and thought-provoking! I thoroughly enjoyed Lawson’s take on one of the most notorious unsolved mysteries. A must read!
June 18, 2025
E.E. Lawson is a dazzling writer with the gift of vivid, immersive storytelling. From the first chapter, her prose pulls you in, warm, inviting and emotionally resonant. Her style doesn’t just describe the world of her characters; it transports you into it, placing you side by side with them, feeling their youthful exuberance, determination and resulting pain.
In Absolution, Lawson intertwines historical fact with gripping fiction, plunging you into the chilling mystery of the Tylenol murders. What begins as a story rooted in real-life tragedy evolves into a psychological nightmare where the line between justice and vengeance blurs. The identity of the culprit is both shocking and disturbingly plausible—an unforgettable twist that lingers long after the final chapter.
This is not just a mystery, it’s an exploration of guilt, shame and the unbearable weight of trauma we carry. Lawson raises haunting moral questions that leave you questioning where does making a difference in the world cross a line. Absolution hooked me from the start and refused to let go. A powerful, thought-provoking, and utterly unputdownable read.
In Absolution, Lawson intertwines historical fact with gripping fiction, plunging you into the chilling mystery of the Tylenol murders. What begins as a story rooted in real-life tragedy evolves into a psychological nightmare where the line between justice and vengeance blurs. The identity of the culprit is both shocking and disturbingly plausible—an unforgettable twist that lingers long after the final chapter.
This is not just a mystery, it’s an exploration of guilt, shame and the unbearable weight of trauma we carry. Lawson raises haunting moral questions that leave you questioning where does making a difference in the world cross a line. Absolution hooked me from the start and refused to let go. A powerful, thought-provoking, and utterly unputdownable read.
June 1, 2025
Absolution is a beautifully written debut novel! I enjoyed the way the story jumped back and forth between past and present day with themes of secrets, regret, forgiveness, love and truth. The Catholic themes throughout the book were very well done and hopeful!
I had never heard of the Tylenol Murders before and I thought the author’s ideas surrounding the case were plausible and interesting. I loved the fictional twist to a true, unsolved crime. The mystery kept the pages quickly turning!
The characters were so well written, I could feel their grief and burdens… their love and peace. This is a book that will definitely stay with me!
I had never heard of the Tylenol Murders before and I thought the author’s ideas surrounding the case were plausible and interesting. I loved the fictional twist to a true, unsolved crime. The mystery kept the pages quickly turning!
The characters were so well written, I could feel their grief and burdens… their love and peace. This is a book that will definitely stay with me!
June 30, 2025
An unforgettable debut that hooked me from the very first page.
Absolution is everything I want in a novel—gripping, thought-provoking, and emotionally rich. From start to finish, I couldn’t put it down. The story moves at a perfect pace, with each chapter pulling me deeper into a world that felt both grounded and intense.
The character development is outstanding. These aren’t just names on a page—they feel real, flawed, and deeply human. I found myself thinking about their choices long after I closed the book.
For a debut, this is wildly impressive. The writing is sharp, the plot is layered, and the themes stay with you. Absolution isn’t just a page-turner—it’s a story that lingers. I’ll be first in line for whatever this author writes next.
Highly recommend.
Absolution is everything I want in a novel—gripping, thought-provoking, and emotionally rich. From start to finish, I couldn’t put it down. The story moves at a perfect pace, with each chapter pulling me deeper into a world that felt both grounded and intense.
The character development is outstanding. These aren’t just names on a page—they feel real, flawed, and deeply human. I found myself thinking about their choices long after I closed the book.
For a debut, this is wildly impressive. The writing is sharp, the plot is layered, and the themes stay with you. Absolution isn’t just a page-turner—it’s a story that lingers. I’ll be first in line for whatever this author writes next.
Highly recommend.
June 30, 2025
When you enter the world of Helen McAllister, be prepared to lose yourself. E.E. Lawson’s Absolution is one of those rare novels that grabs you from the first page and refuses to let go. Helen’s story is told with striking emotional depth, layered complexity, and a raw honesty that makes her journey both unforgettable and deeply human.
Set against the backdrop of real events that shook the world, Lawson masterfully blends fiction and history, creating a narrative that is both haunting and achingly beautiful. As Helen reckons with the weight of her past and her lifelong efforts to serve others, readers are drawn into profound questions of guilt, redemption, and the true meaning of forgiveness. Does a lifetime of good erase a moment of darkness? Can we ever truly outrun the past?
Transporting readers back to 1982, Absolution immerses us in a world of love, loss, and moral reckoning. Lawson doesn’t shy away from difficult topics—instead, she explores them with nuance and grace, inviting readers to reflect on their own beliefs and biases. With richly drawn characters and a storyline that simmers with tension, this novel will stay with you long after the final page.
This is more than a book—it’s an experience. Bold, provocative, and beautifully written, Absolution is a must-read debut that firmly establishes E.E. Lawson as a powerful new voice in literary fiction.
Set against the backdrop of real events that shook the world, Lawson masterfully blends fiction and history, creating a narrative that is both haunting and achingly beautiful. As Helen reckons with the weight of her past and her lifelong efforts to serve others, readers are drawn into profound questions of guilt, redemption, and the true meaning of forgiveness. Does a lifetime of good erase a moment of darkness? Can we ever truly outrun the past?
Transporting readers back to 1982, Absolution immerses us in a world of love, loss, and moral reckoning. Lawson doesn’t shy away from difficult topics—instead, she explores them with nuance and grace, inviting readers to reflect on their own beliefs and biases. With richly drawn characters and a storyline that simmers with tension, this novel will stay with you long after the final page.
This is more than a book—it’s an experience. Bold, provocative, and beautifully written, Absolution is a must-read debut that firmly establishes E.E. Lawson as a powerful new voice in literary fiction.
June 2, 2025
I had the pleasure of reading this as an ARC during the same weekend I watched the new Netflix limited series on the Tylenol murders. There is something about unsolved crimes that sticks in our consciousness, leaves both the sense of a lingering threat and a latent distrust in our system. This novel perfectly captures the senses of unease and distrust in both the justice system and in the corporate and governmental systems that allowed the tragedy to occur. But, E.E. Lawson does more. Absolution imagines a deeply guarded secret answer to the Tylenol murders, all while entertaining rich moral dilemmas for both the system and the guilty. We are left wondering if absolution is possible, and who deserves to be absolved.
E.E. Lawson's prose is both raw and evocative, particularly in the voice of the protagonist, Helen. Characters here are real and deeply human. An excellent read!
E.E. Lawson's prose is both raw and evocative, particularly in the voice of the protagonist, Helen. Characters here are real and deeply human. An excellent read!
October 4, 2025
I enjoyed the authors take on this crime. 3.5⭐️
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews