{"product_id":"the-found-object-society-isbn-9781368114752","title":"The Found Object Society","description":"\u003cb\u003eAn atmospheric speculative suspense novel following a mysterious society offering its members the chance to relive the death of another person—and the self-destructive woman determined to uncover its secrets\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThis ambitious, genre-bending debut is perfect for fans of time-travel fiction including Matt Haig’s \u003ci\u003eThe Midnight Library\u003c\/i\u003e and Gareth Brown’s \u003ci\u003eThe Book of Doors\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA Publisher's Marketplace Spring\/Summer 2026 Buzz Book!\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eA \u003ci\u003ePeople \u003c\/i\u003eBest Books of February 2026!\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAn Allstora Shelf Care Society Book Club Pick!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor twenty years, Greta Davenport has lived with the guilt of surviving the accident that killed her parents. She’s tested the limits of her own mortality ever since, but little gives her the dopamine rush she craves. Not until the night she almost drunkenly crashes her car into a tree, and a peculiar blank card slides under her front door—an invitation to the Found Object Society. What she discovers there is beyond comprehension: an opulent, subterranean playground filled with aisles of objects from different eras and regions of the world. Pick an object and go on a \u003ci\u003evoyage \u003c\/i\u003eto relive the final moments of the person who died holding it, along with an unparalleled, irreplicable high. Greta’s hooked, but she can't quiet her questions about the society and its enigmatic creators, the answers to which have implications far beyond her growing dependence on the voyages. Death is addictive, and what she uncovers will put her entire life into question.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA fever dream of a novel with episodic, time-traveling chapters told from multiple points of view, \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society \u003c\/i\u003eexamines the depraved whims of the ultrarich and the breadth of unresolved trauma—all while asking how grief and the choices we make in its aftermath can change the course of our lives. Michelle Maryk’s wholly original and ambitious debut opens an impeccably wrought speculative world of greed, power, and destiny.“Danger's afoot in this propulsive mystery.” —\u003ci\u003ePeople\u003c\/i\u003e, Best Books of February 2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Unsettling. Propulsive. Sexy. \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e offers its protagonist, and readers, the ultimate thrill ride: the chance to experience death without dying. With lush, gorgeous prose, Michelle Maryk unspools a confident meditation on privilege, addiction, and grief. Do not miss this incredible debut.” —Julia Bartz, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Writing Retreat\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Wickedly smart and wildly creative, \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e pulses with dark wit. Michelle Maryk spins a seductive tale that’s equal parts speculative thrill ride and emotional excavation, delivering a gripping, moving page-turner. This is a suspenseful, addictive must-read!” —Jean Kwok, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Leftover Woman\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eSearching for Sylvie Lee\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Compelling and wholly original, the conceit at the center of \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e—that the rich can experience the death of an individual through the object they last touched—is so juicy it almost feels impossible that the book could also explore the complex emotional, personal world of grief. And yet, Maryk has managed to do it all. This novel is a winner.” —Katy Hays, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Cloisters\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“This feverish tinderbox of a novel simmers with suspense, fueled by Greta, a brazen heroine desperately seeking the truth to her dark past. Maryk has concocted a gripping read, one that does a deep dive into questions surrounding mortality and culpability, money and madness, wrapped up in a unique, brilliantly written novel that kept me gasping for air.” —Fiona Davis, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Stolen Queen\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e is a mind-bendingly brilliant exploration of the nature of grief, the seductions of liminal experiences, and how alternate reality can renew, deepen, and destroy us. Addictive and beautifully rendered . . . Michelle Maryk has written one hell of a novel.” —Danielle Trussoni, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Puzzle Master\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“An unforgettable debut with a premise so irresistible you’ll be hooked from the first chapter. \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e unfolds through multiple stories, each one a vital piece of a larger puzzle, and builds to a mind-boggling twist ending that reframes everything that came before. Multifaceted, intricate, and impossible to put down.” —Angie Kim, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eHappiness Falls\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Michelle Maryk’s debut novel, \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e, begins with a stunner of a premise when Greta Davenport is offered the chance to experience death without dying. \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e is a compelling story as much as it is an exploration of regret, mortality, and the flawed nature of the human heart. A stunning debut novel.” —Danielle Girard, \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003ePinky Swear\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Michelle Maryk demonstrates her versatility and virtuosity in this genre-blending book that defies categorization. Razor-sharp observations, mordant humor, and a surprising plot make this one of the most daring and original books I’ve ever read. If you love secret societies and are convinced the death drive powers us all, you’ll be obsessed with \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e, a rare book that combines wisdom and spine-tingling chills.” —Ashley Winstead, USA Today bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eMidnight Is the Darkest Hour\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Like classic \u003ci\u003eTales from the Crypt\u003c\/i\u003e with a dash of \u003ci\u003eThe Substance\u003c\/i\u003e, Michelle Maryk’s genre-bending and original debut takes you on a ride through the darkest depths of voyeurism with a new take on addiction. \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e will have readers wondering what price they'd be willing to pay for the ultimate trip.” —Vera Kurian, Edgar Award nominee for \u003ci\u003eNever Saw Me Coming\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society \u003c\/i\u003ehits the target as both an engrossing speculative tale where a select few can experience the death of another human being and a profound study of trauma and loss. It made me think hard about the extent people will go to escape emotional pain and the irresistible urge to change the dynamics of our own humanity. Inventive and wholly original, fans of Matt Haig will devour.” —Wendy Walker, bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eAll is Not Forgotten\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e is a speculative novel for our new world, one in which we are so spoiled by the access we’re granted with technology, we’ve become bored with reality. A deft satire of the ultra-wealthy and an irreverent love letter to New York City, Maryk shows us that in a world of billionaires taking thrill rides to space, the final frontier, truly, is our own mortality. But how closely can we brush with death before it consumes us entirely? Don’t be fooled by the dark humor or the addictive pace of \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e—underneath there beats a warm, grief-stricken heart.” —Melissa Larsen, \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Lost House\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Starless Sea\u003c\/i\u003e meets \u003ci\u003eThe Lost Apothecary\u003c\/i\u003e in Michelle Maryk’s nuanced and ambitious debut. \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e is a richly drawn story of loss, grief, and humanity’s obsession with death, told through the eyes of a plucky protagonist I won’t soon forget.” —Tessa Wegert, author of \u003ci\u003eDeath in the Family\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Rendered in a whirl of rich imagery and lush prose and featuring an utterly captivating narrative voice, \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e is a triumph of a novel. This speculative marvel deftly explores questions of mortality, regret, and desire while doubling as a sly interrogation of wealth and privilege. Michelle Maryk is an author to watch.” —Greg Wands, internationally bestselling coauthor of \u003ci\u003eTrust Issues\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“In\u003ci\u003e The Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e, Michelle Maryk brilliantly executes an intriguing premise: What if you could experience someone else’s death without dying? For Greta, the story’s memorable protagonist, the answer is both thrilling and profound. Utterly enthralling, deftly plotted, and wholly original, \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e has all the makings of a major breakout book. I loved it.” —Laura McHugh, award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eWhat's Done in Darkness\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e is a sly, subversive exploration of our obsession with death. The intriguing concept of Maryk’s speculative suspense debut is as utterly unique as her audacious protagonist. A profound yet pacey ride you won't soon forget!” —K. T. Nguyen, Agatha Award–winning author of \u003ci\u003eYou Know What You Did\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“From the moment I heard the premise of \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e, I wanted to read this book, and it did not disappoint. The addictive pull to the Found Object Society that drives the main characters to the brink of self-destruction is palpable, but as delightfully surreal as the concept is, the questions Michelle Maryk explores about grief and regret are grounded and so human. A truly original book that focuses not on the why of death but on why we can’t look away.” —Jennifer Fawcett, author of \u003ci\u003eBeneath the Stairs\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A roller-coaster speculative novel that keeps you guessing, Michelle Maryk’s sharply crafted debut kept me intrigued until the final page turn. Evocative, unafraid of big questions, and entertaining as heck, Maryk shines brightly with this novel.” —Alex Segura, bestselling and award-winning author of \u003ci\u003eSecret Identity\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eAlter Ego\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e is a master class in speculative suspense, an intricately woven story that will stay with you for a long time.” —Sarah Lawton, author of \u003ci\u003eAll the Little Things\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eA Drowning Tide\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“A sexy, speculative thriller! In her imaginative debut novel, Maryk has invented an elite secret society that allows her to explore the universal desire for love, purpose, and meaning in the shadow of mortality—our own and that of those we love most. A moving rumination on the power of regret, and the promise of second chances, as well as the surprising ways both can rewrite our fate.” —Sarah Tomlinson, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Last Days of the Midnight Ramblers\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e is a mind-wreck in the very best way. Wholly original and intoxicatingly hypnotic, Maryk’s debut will sweep you into a lush and dangerous world where nothing is as it seems. Prepare to be spellbound.” —Kathleen Barber, author of \u003ci\u003eTruth Be Told\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eThe Midnight Library\u003c\/i\u003e meets death tourism in Michelle Maryk’s dark and spellbinding debut. A secret society offers its wealthy members a one-of-a-kind experience: a glimpse into someone else’s final moments. Like the society’s voyeuristic patrons, I found myself completely riveted, unable to look away. \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society\u003c\/i\u003e is a wild ride.” —Allison Buccola, author of \u003ci\u003eThe Ascent\u003c\/i\u003eMichelle Maryk graduated from Cornell University with a degree in English and attended the Yale Writer’s Workshop. For the better part of twenty-five years, she’s been a successful voiceover, on-camera commercial, and comedic actor, and she is a dual Swedish and US citizen. \u003ci\u003eThe Found Object Society \u003c\/i\u003eis her debut novel.Rules of the Found Object Society:\u003cbr\u003e1. Interfering or tampering with the vessel of your voyage is strictly prohibited. You are a passenger ONLY. This rule will be enforced to its full extent.\u003cbr\u003e2. Absolutely no photography or cellular or recording devices of any kind are permitted. Cell phones must be handed over and secured before entry.\u003cbr\u003e3. Posting on social media or discussing the Found Object Society with anyone who is not an employee or fellow member is strictly forbidden.\u003cbr\u003e4. Members must wait a minimum of seventy-two hours between voyages.\u003cbr\u003e5. Do not loiter in the waiting area.\u003cbr\u003e6. A member who appears to be intoxicated, high, or otherwise impaired with any controlled substance will be asked to leave.\u003cbr\u003e7. No refunds will be given for any reason.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eVessel? Voyage? Passenger?\u003c\/i\u003e Rules that will be \u003ci\u003eenforced\u003c\/i\u003e? Greta’s never been good at rules.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Greta Davenport,” the bouncer says.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe’s standing behind her, his body emitting heat like a furnace. She turns around, embarrassed at being caught in what feels like a private act of stroking the wallpaper.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Yes? Sorry, I shouldn’t be touching things,” she says.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe looks bemused and shakes his head. “Don’t be silly. Touching the wallpaper is fine.” His face shifts back to serious bouncer face. “Just nothing else beyond this room.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Oh, um, roger that,” she says. \u003ci\u003eRoger that?\u003c\/i\u003e Big Daniel Craig has her tongue-tied, talking like an idiot. Ha, \u003ci\u003eBig Daniel Craig\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Your phone, if you please, Miss Davenport.” His hand extends toward her, a shovel in the air. \u003cbr\u003eRight, rule number two.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Sure, of course.” She takes the iPhone out of her purse and pauses, rethinking giving up her umbilical lifeline.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe waves his fingers at her. “Miss?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGreta relents and places it in his palm. Part of her thinks he may crush it into dust in front of her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Much obliged,” he says. He goes back to the area by the phone and spins a combination lock that’s camouflaged within the wallpaper.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe opens the safe and places her phone inside. Greta cranes her neck to see how many other phones are in there, how many other patrons there may be in the Found Object Society tonight. It’s hard to see, and he closes the safe quickly, giving the numbers a spin. The safe disappears into the debauchery of the wallpaper.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Miranda will be out in a moment to take you back for your voyage.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Voyage. I see that on the sign with the rules. What does that mean? And what’s with these rules and the enforcement stuff?” Greta says.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe scratches his cheek with a liverwurst-size index finger. His eyes dart over to a curtained section of the wall. “Yes, Miss Davenport, that’s what we call it. A \u003ci\u003evoyage\u003c\/i\u003e. And, uh, as for the enforcement—”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe drapes part and Big Daniel Craig shifts his body to attention, changing his tone.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“—that’s for Miranda to tell you about, miss, not the likes of me.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA woman Greta assumes is Miranda emerges through the oxblood-colored velvet. A jaw-dropping Oaxacan goddess birthed in front of her—the diametric opposite of the bureaucratic and lackluster Eileen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“At long last, Greta Davenport. I’m Miranda. And yes,” she says, giving the bouncer a steely look, “please direct any questions you may have to me.” She holds out her hand.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGreta is so flummoxed by this gorgeous creature standing before her that she’s tempted to genuflect and kiss her hand instead of shaking it. Reaching for Miranda’s hand, Greta is painfully aware of how unmanicured and rough her nails are. Miranda’s fingers are elegant, delicate as bird bones. Each digit is adorned with a ring, each one more eye-catching than the one before it; bands of gold and platinum, dolloped with gemstones.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe one on her thumb freezes Greta. It’s an elaborate tree, a network of branches woven from gold, a multitude of emeralds for leaves, a snarl of roots that extend past her knuckle, the thickest root in the center, made of saffron-colored topaz and forming an arrow that points toward her wrist.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt’s the same design as the foamed milk of her latte.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGreta keeps her grasp and looks up at Miranda’s face. Could she be the delivery driver? The profiles are alike, but the similarities end there. Greta’s mind is trying to make connections where none exist.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“That’s quite a ring.” Greta taps the pad of her thumb on top of the bejeweled tree.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Thank you.” Miranda extracts her hand and smiles.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGreta’s surprised that Miranda’s voice is unaccented. She had assumed the \u003ci\u003eMiss\u003c\/i\u003e whom Big Daniel Craig was speaking to on the phone in what sounded like a foreign language had been Miranda. Her mistake. Miranda’s dressed to the nines in voluminous layers of blood-orange silk, crinoline, and muslin that wrap around what must be a spectacular body. There’s a bustle in the back and either she’s naturally wasp-waisted or she’s wearing a corset (an actual freaking corset). Like a sugar cone, it pushes her Goldilocks “just right” bosom up and over the fabric. A long gold chain hangs down between her breasts, the pendant disappearing among the cloth and soft flesh. Even standing still, her clothing rustles and murmurs. A breeze in the forest.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Have we met before?” Greta says.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEvading the question, Miranda says, “I’m sure you’re eager to begin, Greta.” She parts the velvet curtain from where she emerged. “Shall we?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Enjoy your death, Miss Davenport,” Big Daniel Craig says with a smile, and waves.","brand":"Hyperion Avenue","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48233666576613,"sku":"NP9781368114752","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781368114752.jpg?v=1767739406","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/the-found-object-society-isbn-9781368114752","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}