I had high hopes for this one but it kind of let me down. There was a lot of dysfunction in the glass family. This is also a slow thriller. It took me awhile to finish.

My thanks to Touchstone/Gallery books, and Netgalley.
To be honest, I stopped reading this book 2 or 3 month's ago. I couldn't finish it. I always try to give a book 40%. If I'm still grasping for something by that point, then I quit. I'm truth, I made about 28%. It was a long 28%! Nothing, no way, no how, caught my attention. Snooze. Quite seriously, I kept falling asleep. Not a biggie, but I've had insomnia since 1997! 😬 So.....

Hmm...that was not at all what I expected. I’d like to point out that if you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller/mystery aspect, you aren’t going to get it with this book. It’s achingly slow. To the point I almost stopped reading a few times. The twists are interesting but way too predictable. The ending left me...jarred. I have to say, The Glass Forest is creepy as hell.

The storyline follows Angie, a 21 year old newlywed and mother, Ruby, a teenager and child of our last narrator, Silja. Silja and Angie are sister-in-laws to the charming and Cary Grant look-a-like, Paul and Henry. There are so many secrets surrounding these characters and one thing I truly did love about it, was the fact that it was so character driven. It was just too slow for my liking.

There’s so much I could say about the book but it’s hard when anything I do write and say could potentially ruin the book for you, if you do plan on reading. The author writes very well, and great enough to keep my interest. While it wasn’t as fast as I would have liked, it still was decent. Let me know what you think about the book below! And if you finished hit up my email so we can discuss.

Though I liked the book, I made the decision at the time I finished not to review it on my site. Maybe in the future I will include it in a book list post or another article.

Told through the stories of the three women most affected by them, the plot of THE GLASS FOREST is based on the psychopathology of brothers Paul and Henry Glass after WWII. Silja, Henry's wife; Ruby, his daughter; and Angie, Paul's wife, deal with the men's manipulation in different ways, each consistent with her age and the times. In the process, the underbelly of suburban society during the 40s, 50s, and early 60s is exposed.

Silja meets Henry, marries quickly and becomes pregnant just before he is shipped off to serve in WWII. When he returns, wounded and with what we now know of as PTSD, the idyllic life she had imagined is slowly revealed as impossible. Ruby, her daughter, is presented to us mainly as a teenager in 1960 when Henry dies, though she is a participant in Silja's developing story line. Angie, Paul's very young wife, also enters the story at Henry's death, and her narrative makes it clear that the Glass brothers' psychological troubles may have a different source than the influence of the war. Each woman's story is told through alternating short chapters, some as short as a page, a device that works very well to dole out plot details and keep the reader reading.

In the process of trying to figure out what happened to Silja and whether Henry committed suicide as was first thought, we come to know the three women extremely well, while Henry and Paul remain slightly more two-dimensional. Swanson provides a sympathetic male character as well, however, avoiding having the book become a negative statement on men in general. Besides being a compelling psychological thriller, the book is an examination of the dangers inherent in the gender roles assigned to women in the 40s and 50s. In addition to writing thoroughly developed characters and bringing a specific time in history to life, Swanson writes convincingly of the claustrophobic suburban landscape of the East and the more open vistas of the lake country in the Midwest, and the effects that these different visual perspectives can have on mindset.

The depth of this book may suggest that the mystery plot falls short, but this far from true. The narrative, moving as it does from time period to time period and character to character provides clues and twists along the way as we attempt to understand what happened to Silja and Henry, and what role each of the characters may have played. In the end, the resolution is satisfying and the epilogue provides hope.

This is the second book by Swanson, with her first, THE BOOKSELLER having been an award-winning bestseller. I missed that one but will certainly head back to it now.

This book is perfect for fans of intense suspense - people who like books where something is just slightly wrong, like a feeling. Then as the book goes on, it becomes apparent that things are very wrong indeed, and by the end, the wreckage is revealed.

Glass Forest has a creepy, slow-burn atmosphere that just made me uneasy from the beginning. By about 40 percent of the way in, I couldn't stop turning pages, desperate to know what the heck was going on.

Glass Forest tells two stories: In the novel's present day (the 1960s), Angie Glass, a newlywed and new mother, travels with her husband, Paul, to upstate New York to support him in the aftermath of a family tragedy: Paul's sister-in-law, Silja, has run out on her family and his brother has apparently killed himself in grief, leaving behind a 17-year-old daughter. As this story unfolds, we learn about the relationship between Silja and Henry through flashbacks from Silja's point-of-view.

This novel was really well structured, providing enough suspense in both timelines to keep me interested in both sets of characters and the happenings in both time periods. As I said earlier, it becomes apparent pretty quickly that something isn't quite right, and I loved reading on to try and figure it out.

There's enough foreshadowing to lay the groundwork for the ending, but I was bowled over nonetheless.

I really enjoyed this one and I came to really like the wonderful cast of female characters.

Highly recommended.

This book was a little too slow for me after a really interesting beginning. Great setting, and I think this book will be perfect for readers of historical fiction who are interested in a bit of a mystery.

My review for this book can be found on my GoodReads account. The link to that account is https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1335387-kelly.

This book was furnished to me by NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. Thankmyou for this opportunity.

Without giving anything away just get this book now!!! It's very compelling and I literaļy flew through it. This book can not be missed!!

This is a great novel. I don't usually read stories set back in time or history, I am trying to read more. This one put me through one heck of a roller coaster with my emotions. There really should be a trigger warning with this one. If you have been in a relationship with a narcissist, emotional abuser, controller you may have a tough time reading it. That being said I would sometimes find myself in tears and other times the hatred would be about to boil over. I just kept on reading as I needed to know what was going to happen to Silja and Ruby. The story did have a slow start but once you get into it you will feel like you are right there with the characters. It isn't an action packed novel but a literary fiction.

I absolutely loved how the author would flip back and forth from characters (Silja, Ruby and Angie) also going back in time to have the reader learn about Silja and Henry's relationship. Suspense dripped from the pages as I read on. Would Henry give Silja what see wanted? What really happened to Henry and where did Silja go? Did Ruby have anything to do with this? You will need to read this novel if you love physiological thrillers. It was a great literary fiction that I would totally read again. I can't wait to read more from Cynthia Swanson. The novel was beautifully pieced together.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

I received a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I think it was the intrigue and the slow steady build of suspense that immediately pulled me into this novel. I knew as a reader that something was not right from the onset, but could not deduce exactly what was amiss until the plot reveal. Once again Cynthia Swanson proves to be a very talented writer when it comes historical reflections. I greatly appreciated her exploration of a part and place in American history that I did not know much about. Swanson’s smooth and adept writing makes it enjoyable for the reader to follow her multiple narrators through a vast expanse of time within only a few pages. Her strong female leads were all unique, making their various (and joint) experience one that will be a great discussion for book club.

What starts off as a seemingly family drama soon becomes a dark and twisted ride of suspense. The Glass Forest is the story of Angie Glass, a young newlywed and mother deeply in love with her family and her life. She gets a phone call that her husbands brother has died of a suspected suicide and his wife has gone missing, leaving behind a goodbye note and their 17 year old daughter. Angie and her husband travel to New York and the mystery starts to unfold. Told from different perspectives, the reader slowly unravels the story bit by bit through these different stories. This is not a fast moving thriller but one of suspense, with the author peeling back the layers bit by bit in the most delicious way. This book was dark and twisted, and I loved it! It was not what I was expecting and I was pleasantly surprised. Thank you @touchstonebooks for this advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Set in post war New York State, The Glass Forest is the in depth look at two brothers, their marriages, and the choices their wives make during the course of their time together.

Henry and Silja have been married since war broke out and he was shipped overseas. Pregnant whilst Henry was fighting the war, she spent a few years raising Ruby solo and had to adjust when her husband returned from war, but not as the man he once was. How long would she be required to 'be patient' as he readjusted to civilian life?

Angie and Paul are recently married, with a small baby. Angie is living the life she never dreamed she could, and has found the perfect husband. But from time to time there are flashes of malice in his eyes that she chalks down to adjusting to life with a baby. But is there more to those looks than she's willing to admit to herself?

When Silja is reported missing and Henry is found dead in his yard, Ruby is left orphaned as a teenager, and Paul and Angie need to tie up the loose ends in order to assist Ruby.

But Ruby knows more than she lets on, and she has to decide whose secrets she wants to protect when her uncle comes back to town. And Ruby is good at harvesting secrets.

A psychological thriller, the Glass Forest provides a rich landscape of mastery, and keeps you on your toes all the way through as we slowly learn more about Henry and Paul. A great addition to Swanson's novels!

This was a slow burn of a thriller for me, but when it picked up toward the second half, it caught fire. The characters were enigmatic and creepy (as they should be) and this author is definitely on my must-read list.

This is such a unique story! I was instantly drawn in by all the interesting characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the flashbacks that were woven throughout the story.

This is a slow burning story that may require some patience from the reader. If you're expecting a thriller then you'll likely be disappointed. I went into this with little expectations and I feel I was rewarded with an excellently written atmospheric tale that compelled me to turn the pages. I needed to know what the heck was going on.

The story starts with Paul Glass getting a phone call from his 17 year old niece in New York, Ruby, explaining that his brother Paul has committed suicide and her mom, Silja, is missing. Paul packs his wife Angie and infant son PJ up and off to fly out to New York to help Ruby with arrangements and to figure out what they'll do with her next as she has no other family.

Throughout the entire book you just know that something is "off" with the Glass family. This is told in alternating chapters. There is Angie, Ruby, and Silja's sections that are told in flashbacks. Ms. Swanson slowly gives you pieces of the puzzle until the satisfying conclusion.

Also I should mention that what drew me to this book is the gorgeous cover. Love it!

Thank you to Sydney @ Simon and Schuster for sending me a widget through NetGalley. I very much appreciate the opportunity.

I adored Cynthia Swanson's previous book, The Bookseller so when I saw that she had another book coming out I knew I had to read it. And wow! I was not quite sure what to expect with this one. The Glass Forest is one of those books that will keep you up reading long after your bedtime. I had NO idea where it was headed. Usually with suspense books I have a pretty good inkling of where things are going about halfway through. Not so with this one! The characters were so well written and Swanson did a fantastic job of giving tidbits of information throughout. Just enough to keep you guessing. If you like suspense and mystery don't hesitate to read this one!
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advance digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

{My Thoughts}
What Worked For Me
Multiple Perspectives – One of the things I liked best about The Glass Forest was Swanson’s use of three different perspectives to methodically build this dysfunctional family mystery. From Silja, married to Henry, we learn about their whirlwind romance which ended with a quick wedding and pregnancy just before Henry shipped out to WWII. Silja’s part of the story covers the most time, moving from the 40’s right up until the point where she disappears in 1960. Angie, brother Paul’s very young wife and a bit of a ninny, often finds herself in the dark, but slowly gains the wherewithal to stand on her own two feet. Ruby, Henry and Silja’s daughter, adds even more layers to the mystery surrounding her parents, and she proves to be a most unreliable character.

Mid-Century Milieu – I always enjoy a book that uses time appropriate cultural references so well, and Swanson did just that. Paul smoked nonstop on a cross-country plane ride and Ruby mused about the duck and cover drills they had to do in school. Henry was on the lookout for Commies. Angie had never touched a Negro, and was surprised that a Negro woman could be a respected teacher in a white community. Both Silja and Angie easily submitted to their husbands’ wills despite Silja being the breadwinner for her family. Perhaps saddest of all, Silja could not get a divorce. At the time, adultery was the only grounds open to a woman.

Slow Building Questions – From the start of The Glass Forest we know that Silja is missing and Henry is dead. The questions of what happened to Henry and where Silja has gone are obvious, but what unfolds brings many, many more questions. What happened to Henry in the war and after? Why has Silja stayed? Something isn’t right about Paul, but what? Who is Shepherd? And Ruby? She knows a whole lot more than she’s letting on.

What Didn’t
Ruby – I didn’t always like Swanson’s handling of Ruby. It felt like she wasn’t quite sure how to tell that part of the story and too often hit dead ends. For example, Ruby was speaking to Shepherd and told him, “other things.” If you aren’t going to share what a character is saying, don’t leave us with “other things.” It feels weak. Ruby was often shut up in her room refusing to speak to anyone. She snuck out at night, and though reasons were given, they didn’t always add up. Even in the resolution, the choices Ruby made left me a bit confounded.

Unlikely Element – I feel ridiculous mentioning it, but one thing drove me nuts. It involved a boulder (not a rock, a boulder) that people seemed to easily be able to move. This boulder being moved was critical to the story and yet there was never any explanation as to how it was so easily accomplished. Why?

{The Final Assessment}
For me, The Glass Forest had a lot of moving parts that didn’t always come together quite as smoothly as I’d have liked. Despite that, I really enjoyed the era and much of the story. Swanson’s book was a fun, fast read, good for a change-of-pace. Grade: B

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.

Cynthia Swanson s-l-o-w-l-y unfolds her story through the perspectives of three women who couldn't be more different yet were each affected by the men (two brothers, no less) in their lives.

You first meet Angie Glass, a woman barely in her twenties who married the older, charismatic Paul. Together they have an infant son, and all seems cozy in their Door County, Wisconsin, cottage. Until, that is, their teenaged niece Ruby calls them to say that Paul's brother Henry has died.

Angie feels like Ruby will connect with her because they are so close in age, so she goes with her husband to take care of the funeral. Silja, Ruby's mother, is gone, having vanished after leaving a note saying she isn't interested in hanging around any longer.

You soon realize that you aren't quite sure what happened to Henry, and you aren't quite sure why Silja left. Swanson builds her mystery with deliberate pacing, letting you think you know the truths those three women have even as she shows you that you know nothing.

And that, in a way, is a message of this book: you can love someone, you can live with someone, but can you ever really know someone, or is it more a matter of you choosing what you want to know? I felt for Angie as I worried that Paul used her youth and inexperience against her, despite his apparent devotion to her and their child. I wanted to feel more for Silja than I did, but she seemed almost too - I don't know - self-pitying, maybe. And then there is Ruby. While I did not connect with this character at all, I can't say I figured out what stopped me until Swanson revealed her to her fullest extent.

I liked this book more the deeper I got into it. At first it moved a little too slowly for me, but as it built, I found I couldn't put it down. I did not see some of the twists coming, whereas there were some I sensed would happen. Swanson needed Angie here. She is, in many ways, the heart of the book. Her innocence and youthful hope are desperately necessary. If only Silja and Ruby had her in their lives earlier.

Thank you to Touchstone Books for providing me with a free digital copy of The Glass Forest in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Glass Forest is a slow burning examination of family and how much, and how little, we know about the people around us. Angie is a young new mother and wife of the older Paul and she couldn't be happier. She wants nothing more than a simple life in her hometown and it seems she has got just that. However, secrets about her husband Paul begin to surface when his teenage niece Ruby calls to give them some devastating news: Ruby's father is dead of apparent suicide, after what police are speculating was devastation at being abandoned by Ruby's mother Silja. Now Ruby is alone, so Angie and Paul immediately fly to her side so they can be there for Ruby and so Paul can make the arrangements for the death of his brother, Henry. Angie seems to be the only normal person in this picture and the longer they stay with Ruby in her parents house, the stranger the circumstances get. When the police call Ruby in for the questioning about her mother's whereabouts, Angie starts to look for clues about what really happened to this family and what secrets from the past may have caused it.

This thriller had me feeling uneasy from the start. It is obvious very early on that things were off kilter and that it would only be a matter of time before we find out what is going on. For being strongly character driven, this was a page turner for me and I found myself thinking of the book and wanting to know what was going to happen. Angie seemed to be the only character who was normal and I couldn't wait to find out how the secrets from Paul and Henry's past affected their dire situation. Reading this felt like peeling away layers of an onion, each slightly unstable character was very dynamic and kept me guessing till the end. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.