{"product_id":"the-affliction-a-novel-isbn-9780062791405","title":"The Affliction: A Novel","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eMore Than You Know, Leeway Cottage,\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eDeath at Breakfast\u003c\/em\u003e delivers the second installment in her clever romp of a mystery series combining social comedy and dark-hearted murder—a novel set at a girls’ boarding school in a picturesque Hudson River town with more than its share of secrets.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSince retiring as head of a famous New York City private school, Maggie Detweiler is busier than ever. Chairing a team to evaluate the faltering Rye Manor School for girls, she will determine whether, in spite of its fabled past, the school has a future at all. With so much on the line for so many, tensions on campus are at an excruciating pitch, and Maggie expects to be as welcome as a case of Ebola virus.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt a reception for the faculty and trustees to \"welcome\" Maggie’s team, no one seems more keen for all to go well than Florence Meagher, a star teacher who is loved and respected in spite of her affliction—that she can never stop talking.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFlorence is one of those dedicated teachers for whom the school is her life, and yet the next morning, when Maggie arrives to observe her teaching, Florence is missing. Florence’s husband, Ray, an auxiliary policeman in the village, seems more annoyed than alarmed at her disappearance. But Florence’s sister is distraught. There have been tensions in the marriage, and at their last visit, Florence had warned, \"If anything happens to me, don’t assume it’s an accident.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo days later, Florence’s body is found in the campus swimming pool.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMaggie is asked to stay on to coach the very young and inexperienced head of Rye Manor through the crisis. Maggie obviously knows schools, but she also knows something about investigating murder, having solved a mysterious death in Maine the previous year when the police went after the wrong suspect. She is soon joined by her madcap socialite friend Hope, who is jonesing for an excuse to ditch her book club anyway, before she has to actually read \u003cem\u003eSilas Marner.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat on earth is going on in this idyllic town? Is this a run-of-the-mill marital murder? Or does it have something to do with the school board treasurer’s real estate schemes? And what is up with the vicious cyber-bullying that’s unsettled everyone, or with the disturbed teenaged boy whom Florence had made a pet of? And is it possible that someone killed Florence just so she’d finally shut up?\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003eSince retiring as the longtime head of a famous New York City private school, Maggie Detweiler is busier than ever. Chairing a team to evaluate the faltering Rye Manor School for Girls, she will determine whether the fabled school has a future at all. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt a reception for the faculty and trustees to “welcome” Maggie’s team, no one seems keener for all to go well than Florence Meagher, a star teacher who is loved and respected despite her affliction—she can’t stop talking.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTwo days later, Florence’s body is found in the campus swimming pool. Is it possible that someone killed Florence just so she’d finally shut up?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMaggie obviously knows schools, but she also knows something about investigating murder, having solved a mysterious death in Maine the previous year when the police went after the wrong suspect. She is soon joined by her madcap socialite friend, Hope, and together they set out to unmask the killer of the too-talkative teacher.\u003c\/p\u003e | \u003cp\u003e“An unpretentious tale of friendship among the well-heeled that is both a page-turner and day-brightener.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePraise for \u003cem\u003eDeath at Breakfast\u003c\/em\u003e: \u003c\/strong\u003e“I have been a Beth Gutcheon fan forever, since a smart librarian put Gutcheon’s first novel in my hands and said, ‘You’ll love her.’ I do. And now this wonderful addition: a murder mystery, with all of her talents vividly displayed. What could be better: intrigue, murder, a New England inn, food, celebrities, and an endearing local cop that Agatha Christie would envy. Brava, Beth Gutcheon! And thank you.” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eElinor Lipman, author of The View From Penthouse B, The Inn at Lake Devine, and Then She Found Me\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Humor and suspense in equal measure make for a delightful read in this second outing...for the well-heeled duo of Maggie Detweiler and Hope Babbin.”\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Maggie and Hope aren’t like the biddies of old English mysteries, picking up clues over tea and stuffing them for safekeeping in their knitting baskets. They’re sharp and youthful, and the good news is that they’re even sharper in \u003cem\u003eThe Affliction.\u003c\/em\u003e” - \u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHead Butler\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"William Morrow Large Print","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44888388206821,"sku":"NP9780062791405","price":28.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780062791405.jpg?v=1730228984","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/the-affliction-a-novel-isbn-9780062791405","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}