On the surface, THE GLASS FOREST appears to be the story of ordinary domestic life in post-WWII New York. Beneath the surface, it is the story of dark secrets and bad intentions. It is the story of Silja, daughter of Finnish immigrants, who falls for Henry, a dashing soldier who comes home from the war a broken man. Silja does her best to support Henry, both mentally and financially, and lovingly raise their daughter, Ruth. We know from the beginning that the story does not end well, but Swanson builds the suspense incrementally as parts of the story are revealed through the eyes of Ruth, Silja, and her young sister-in law, Angie. As the story unfolds, the reader becomes more and more invested in each of the women, even while knowing that tragedy lies at the end. THE GLASS FOREST is one of the best and most skillfully written books I have read in a long time. Swanson is a brilliant writer and I plan to read everything she writes!

Wow. This is a very different book than Swanson’s debut novel, The Bookseller, but equally compelling with the same attention to historical accuracy that makes you feel like you’re in the 1940s/1960s.

Told from the alternating points of view of three women, the story gets off to a slow start, but once you get into it, you won’t be able to put it down. Stilja’s story begins in 1942 when she meets Henry and has a whirlwind love affair and a quick marriage before he goes off to war. The war changes him, and not for the better, but Stilja has already given birth to Ruby.

Angie and Ruby’s stories begin in 1960 after Stilja has left a note saying she’s leaving them and the dead body of Henry is found outside their glass house in the forest with a cup of poisoned tea. Where is Stilja? Did she kill Henry or was it really suicide because he was so depressed about her leaving? Also, what truths does Angie have to discover about her much older husband, the painter Paul, the brother of Henry?
The way this story unravels is deeply gratifying and the history is fascinating. It makes you appreciate the way things have improved for women, even if we still have a long way to go.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Touchstone for the opportunity to review this book, which RELEASES FEB. 6, 2018.

This was a slow-burn creep-fest set in the 1960’s when life was much different for women. Paul and Angie are newly married with a baby when they get a call that Paul’s brother is dead and his sister-in-law is missing. Paul and Angie quickly fly to be with their 17 year old niece to try to figure out what happened to their family. This isn’t fast paced, but it is so good. There are a lot of layers and it was a quick read for me. I think this could be one of the best of 2018.

I really enjoyed this...a family who is tied together by a web of lies. How much do you really know someone? What separates this from the myriad of thriller/suspense books is the time period. This takes place in 1960 and the atmospheric feel of that era is touchable. Two brothers - Henry and Paul. Paul's new wife Angie and their baby. Henry's wife Silja and their teenage daughter Ruby. Silja's story is laid out in flashbacks from when she meet Henry. It all becomes tangled together and characters are developed in a slow burn towards the ultimate ending.

A phone call from her teenage niece she's only met once puts Angie's life in a spiral. The niece, Ruby, frantically reports that her mother, Silja, has gone missing and her father, Henry, is dead from an apparent suicide. Running to tell her beloved husband Paul that his brother is dead and his sister-in-law is missing, Angie only wants to help the family heal. Paul, Angie and their baby son, PJ, all board a plane going from Wisconsin to Stonekill, New York to be at Ruby's side.

As the story unfolds, Angie becomes aware of past events in the families' lives that makes her question what really happened. Learning that terrible war trauma caused paranoia in Henry so deeply that he believes that anyone with a thought differing from his is a Communist - including his own wife. Silja's chaste life creating a deep desire for any form of companionship which leads to a hidden relationship outside of her marriage. To, worse of all, the revelation that her amazingly handsome. loving, faithful husband was run out of Stonekill years back due to accusations of inappropriate advances toward a minor. How well does Angie know anything about this family or her life she's made?

Only once Angie is able to break through the barrier that her niece has constructed of self-preservation, does she realize that there is danger not only for Ruby, but for Angie herself and her baby. The truth must be revealed but only at the assurance that they all three will remain unharmed. Ruby, a much stronger and mature woman than anyone is aware, navigates how all is brought to light. The question becomes, how well does Angie know Ruby and to what extent does she extend her trust.

A truly gripping tale that is highly recommended.

Very enjoyable. We are looking forward to the author visiting our library this spring!

Angie is a young woman from a small town in Wisconsin, at 21 she married to Paul, a handsome older man. When they receive news about that her brother-in-law Henry was dead, and that their niece was living by herself since her mother, Silja was missing, they decided to travel to Stonekill, New York to be by Ruby’s side. Angie thinks that she could help Ruby’s with her loss, but later discovered that she wasn't an average 17 year old. Angie, Silja and the baby were the only normal characters in this book, I had a hard time writing this review but I would recommended it if you do not mind reading about a Sociopath Family!