What do you think?
Rate this book
Lost in a Masquerade
Danny, an enigmatic and alluring advertising executive, and the three women who love him spin an intricate and heartfelt narrative of twisted love, self-sabotage, and emotional growth amid the repercussions of unexamined childhood trauma.
As a child, Danny knew what would follow the pop of a beer the raised voices, the slaps, the screams, and the police pounding at the door. He learns fast that the best way to get by is to pretend everything is fine and assume a mask so no one will suspect otherwise.
Then, in college, he meets and marries Sally McAllister, who has lived a life of privilege and faith-based certitude. It takes Danny years to realize that the proper object of his love is not his wife but the warm and boisterous McAllister family.
Fast forward, and Danny is a rising star at a top Madison Avenue advertising agency. There, he meets the charismatic Joanna, who is also hiding a secret.
Forced to grapple between his responsibilities as a husband and father and his mounting passion for Joanna, Danny's carefully constructed mask begins to unravel. Just as he thinks life can't get more complicated, a powerful and insightful third woman enters the scene and leaves him questioning everything he thought he knew.
Narrated by Danny and the three women who love him, Lost in a Masquerade explores the costs of being cocooned in self-denial as it builds to its shocking twist. Will the emotional grenades of his unexamined past blow up his real shot at healthy love?
Rife with psychological insights and authentic to its New York-based 1980s timeframe, Lost in a Masquerade is a daringly hopeful story of self-discovery that keeps readers gripped until the very last page.
As a child, Danny knew what would follow the pop of a beer the raised voices, the slaps, the screams, and the police pounding at the door. He learns fast that the best way to get by is to pretend everything is fine and assume a mask so no one will suspect otherwise.
Then, in college, he meets and marries Sally McAllister, who has lived a life of privilege and faith-based certitude. It takes Danny years to realize that the proper object of his love is not his wife but the warm and boisterous McAllister family.
Fast forward, and Danny is a rising star at a top Madison Avenue advertising agency. There, he meets the charismatic Joanna, who is also hiding a secret.
Forced to grapple between his responsibilities as a husband and father and his mounting passion for Joanna, Danny's carefully constructed mask begins to unravel. Just as he thinks life can't get more complicated, a powerful and insightful third woman enters the scene and leaves him questioning everything he thought he knew.
Narrated by Danny and the three women who love him, Lost in a Masquerade explores the costs of being cocooned in self-denial as it builds to its shocking twist. Will the emotional grenades of his unexamined past blow up his real shot at healthy love?
Rife with psychological insights and authentic to its New York-based 1980s timeframe, Lost in a Masquerade is a daringly hopeful story of self-discovery that keeps readers gripped until the very last page.
352 pages, Paperback
Published May 14, 2024
2 people are currently reading
2327 people want to read
About the author
Jill Shtulman
2 books2,058 followersJill Shtulman is a former Vice President and Associate Creative Director at Rapp Collins. For over three decades, she has spearheaded her own successful marketing writing business, JSA Creative Services, working with nationally known clients. Her award-winning experience in the advertising and marketing world adds a level of authenticity to her storytelling.
After years of living in Chicago, she currently resides in Durham, North Carolina with her husband, Leigh Page, a particularly energetic mini goldendoodle named Josie, and two spirited cats.
After years of living in Chicago, she currently resides in Durham, North Carolina with her husband, Leigh Page, a particularly energetic mini goldendoodle named Josie, and two spirited cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 24, 2024
Danny Monahan is a successful advertising exec with a crumbling personal life. His difficulty with commitment and true intimacy stems from an abusive past, listening to and watching his alcoholic father physically assault his mother on a regular basis. Despite the weight of his childhood and adolescence, (or because of), he makes sure to study well and advance his education, in order to leave his past behind. He may have left his family in a geographical way, but the burden of his abuse continues to haunt him. He’s been in survival mode ever since he can remember. Danny’s adult life, and the three women who love him, are about to make everything escalate for him.
Told in the voices of Danny, his wife, his lover, and a new woman who steps in later, the narrative speaks for itself. Almost all the characters---especially Danny—are lost in a masquerade, and due to a scalding, vengeful, bitter ex-wife, he’s now about to lose his son. Enter the psychologist, who can help him save his own life, if only Danny will let him.
I read this in a few short days, as the pages keep turning and I had to know how it all turned out for Danny. There are some ineluctable twists and turns that you may not see coming, but match with the characteristics of Danny’s nature. Can he heal? You have to read the book to see. I would have liked to see more of the POV chapters of two of the women—his ex-wife, Sally, and a special colleague, Reba. Mostly it is Danny and Joanna that appear on the pages. Jill Shtulman gets her complete story out despite that. This is a plot-based novel that will keep you guessing up till the end.
Told in the voices of Danny, his wife, his lover, and a new woman who steps in later, the narrative speaks for itself. Almost all the characters---especially Danny—are lost in a masquerade, and due to a scalding, vengeful, bitter ex-wife, he’s now about to lose his son. Enter the psychologist, who can help him save his own life, if only Danny will let him.
I read this in a few short days, as the pages keep turning and I had to know how it all turned out for Danny. There are some ineluctable twists and turns that you may not see coming, but match with the characteristics of Danny’s nature. Can he heal? You have to read the book to see. I would have liked to see more of the POV chapters of two of the women—his ex-wife, Sally, and a special colleague, Reba. Mostly it is Danny and Joanna that appear on the pages. Jill Shtulman gets her complete story out despite that. This is a plot-based novel that will keep you guessing up till the end.
May 24, 2024
Jill Shtulman’s debut novel, “Lost in a Masquerade”, brings us three distinctive voices and points of view in a gripping novel about the destruction of a marriage and the lasting effects of dysfunctional childhoods.
Danny’s father was abusive and he thinks by escaping his family of origin through college, a high-powered career, and a marriage into a large wealthy family, he has escaped his violent background. Of course, he hasn’t.
Sally, Danny’s wife and the mother of his son, Charlie, who thought she was “saving” Danny by marrying him and engulfing him in her family, soon finds herself married to a man she doesn’t recognize or respect.
Joanna, Danny’s mistress who was abandoned by her father in childhood, also brings her issues into their selfish and salacious relationship.
With these three distinct characters, Shtulman effectively exposes the masks they all wear and highlights the benefits of professional help with helping them to find their “true selves”.
“Lost in a Masquerade” is perfectly paced and absorbing with a satisfying and realistic ending.
In addition to being a novelist, Jill Shtulman is a prolific reader and an insightful and admired book reviewer whom I’ve long trusted to steer me toward great reads (and AWAY from duds). You’ll want to “follow” her on GoodReads! I do!
Danny’s father was abusive and he thinks by escaping his family of origin through college, a high-powered career, and a marriage into a large wealthy family, he has escaped his violent background. Of course, he hasn’t.
Sally, Danny’s wife and the mother of his son, Charlie, who thought she was “saving” Danny by marrying him and engulfing him in her family, soon finds herself married to a man she doesn’t recognize or respect.
Joanna, Danny’s mistress who was abandoned by her father in childhood, also brings her issues into their selfish and salacious relationship.
With these three distinct characters, Shtulman effectively exposes the masks they all wear and highlights the benefits of professional help with helping them to find their “true selves”.
“Lost in a Masquerade” is perfectly paced and absorbing with a satisfying and realistic ending.
In addition to being a novelist, Jill Shtulman is a prolific reader and an insightful and admired book reviewer whom I’ve long trusted to steer me toward great reads (and AWAY from duds). You’ll want to “follow” her on GoodReads! I do!
May 19, 2024
Midlife men in fiction are generally portrayed as red-Porsche-drivers who see-the-grass-is-younger-on-other-side. These men want what they want and see little reason not to take it. And they usually don’t care how their actions affect others who stand in their way.
But what about a man who knows the devil is in the details and tries to understand his actions? Pressed into reluctant therapy, ad-man Danny Monahan is trying to figure out why he did what he did to the three most important women in his life. The book, “Lost in a Masquerade” by Jill Shtulman, is set in the mid-1980’s New York City advertising world. Think “Mad Men”, but 30 years later.
The three women were his wife, girlfriend, and fellow worker. They were important to him, but several others played huge parts in his mental and emotional development. Shtulman isn’t gentle with Danny as he looks at his life and tries to understand it.
“Lost in a Masquerade” is a well-written novel of a man who doesn’t know what he has til he begins to lose it. The characters are presented as fully formed, each with a side story, not just one with Danny. The book might also work well as a series on Netflix or Amazon Prime.
But what about a man who knows the devil is in the details and tries to understand his actions? Pressed into reluctant therapy, ad-man Danny Monahan is trying to figure out why he did what he did to the three most important women in his life. The book, “Lost in a Masquerade” by Jill Shtulman, is set in the mid-1980’s New York City advertising world. Think “Mad Men”, but 30 years later.
The three women were his wife, girlfriend, and fellow worker. They were important to him, but several others played huge parts in his mental and emotional development. Shtulman isn’t gentle with Danny as he looks at his life and tries to understand it.
“Lost in a Masquerade” is a well-written novel of a man who doesn’t know what he has til he begins to lose it. The characters are presented as fully formed, each with a side story, not just one with Danny. The book might also work well as a series on Netflix or Amazon Prime.
June 2, 2024
Danny Monahan comes from a disadvantaged past. Raised by an abusive alcoholic father, he witnessed domestic violence, was brutally beaten himself, and spent his teenaged years with his father behind bars. Despite his internal resilience, Danny had very low self-esteem and saw himself as 'not good enough'.
While attending CUNY in New York he met Sally McAllister and, despite their chemistry being marginal, she came from a good Catholic family that Danny grew to adore. He married her in part to become part of the McAllister clan. He especially worshiped Sally's father, a neurosurgeon, devout Catholic and strong patriarch. Danny sought his approval and respect.
Danny and Sally's lives went forward without bells and whistles and it was very difficult for Sally to get pregnant. Once they had a son, Charlie, their married life went to hell in a hand basket,
The novel is told from different points of view, with each perspective shedding more light on what is transpiring in Danny's life. In order to avoid spoilers, I will not go into detail about what occurs. I just want the reader to understand that this book deals with the outcome of childhood abuse on adults, exploring themes of trauma, self-esteem, religiosity, and intimacy. The author appears to have an excellent understanding of the scars that abused people carry throughout their lifetimes.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fiction with good character development, plot definition, and psychological undertones.
While attending CUNY in New York he met Sally McAllister and, despite their chemistry being marginal, she came from a good Catholic family that Danny grew to adore. He married her in part to become part of the McAllister clan. He especially worshiped Sally's father, a neurosurgeon, devout Catholic and strong patriarch. Danny sought his approval and respect.
Danny and Sally's lives went forward without bells and whistles and it was very difficult for Sally to get pregnant. Once they had a son, Charlie, their married life went to hell in a hand basket,
The novel is told from different points of view, with each perspective shedding more light on what is transpiring in Danny's life. In order to avoid spoilers, I will not go into detail about what occurs. I just want the reader to understand that this book deals with the outcome of childhood abuse on adults, exploring themes of trauma, self-esteem, religiosity, and intimacy. The author appears to have an excellent understanding of the scars that abused people carry throughout their lifetimes.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes fiction with good character development, plot definition, and psychological undertones.
June 1, 2024
Told from three different perspectives and points-of-view, this is the story of Danny Monahan and the three women he loved and who loved him.
We first meet Danny as he is meeting Walt, a shrink he feels forced to meet. Danny has had a very rough life and he finds it hard to move forward. Even though his life went from bad to better, Danny can't run or hide from his past. His early life constantly hangs over him, interfering with his daily life, and takes so much out of him emotionally.
Danny seems to believe he is unworthy of much that he has achieved in his life, but mostly he feels like he doesn't deserve to be loved. He has not had many women in his life, but he does have three who have loved him.
There's Sally his high school sweetheart and the woman he eventually marries. He loves her large and crazy family and all of the warmth and happiness they all bring into the darkness of his life. But as time moves forward, everything in the relationship with Sally and her family changes.
Then there's Joanna who is besotted with Danny and hopes to find a future with him. But can she make this happen? Seems as if their love is true and real but....
And Reba shows up later in Danny's life. She's an older woman; rich, beautiful, and fiercely independent. She's an accomplished and smart woman and believes Danny has plenty to offer in the world of business...and perhaps in her personal life.
Join Danny as he tells his story, both the past and present. The characters are believable and down-to-earth. The story line is interesting and keeps moving. I loved how each chapter was told by one of the three main characters; this is one of my favorite literary formats. There are some twists, turns, and surprises that you won't see coming.
All in all, an excellent read by a debut author!
We first meet Danny as he is meeting Walt, a shrink he feels forced to meet. Danny has had a very rough life and he finds it hard to move forward. Even though his life went from bad to better, Danny can't run or hide from his past. His early life constantly hangs over him, interfering with his daily life, and takes so much out of him emotionally.
Danny seems to believe he is unworthy of much that he has achieved in his life, but mostly he feels like he doesn't deserve to be loved. He has not had many women in his life, but he does have three who have loved him.
There's Sally his high school sweetheart and the woman he eventually marries. He loves her large and crazy family and all of the warmth and happiness they all bring into the darkness of his life. But as time moves forward, everything in the relationship with Sally and her family changes.
Then there's Joanna who is besotted with Danny and hopes to find a future with him. But can she make this happen? Seems as if their love is true and real but....
And Reba shows up later in Danny's life. She's an older woman; rich, beautiful, and fiercely independent. She's an accomplished and smart woman and believes Danny has plenty to offer in the world of business...and perhaps in her personal life.
Join Danny as he tells his story, both the past and present. The characters are believable and down-to-earth. The story line is interesting and keeps moving. I loved how each chapter was told by one of the three main characters; this is one of my favorite literary formats. There are some twists, turns, and surprises that you won't see coming.
All in all, an excellent read by a debut author!
June 6, 2024
This novel deals with the lifelong effects of childhood abuse – both physical and emotional. The main character is Danny, who we meet in adulthood as a successful advertising executive. As the novel progresses, we learn several things about Danny, including the fact that his father was highly and frequently physically abusive to his mother (who never fought back and always stayed with her husband) and (albeit slightly less frequently) to Danny. We also learn that Danny grew up in Queens and married a woman (Sally) who offered everything from a stable, loving family to access to influence and jobs. But Danny fell into a passionate affair with a very beautiful but very needy woman named Joanna. Joanna’s father had left her for his “other” family of which she had no knowledge – leaving her with just the sense of total abandonment. Both main characters are deeply wounded, but each also puts on a very strong, successful and capable outward persona. They are living – and lost - in a masquerade.
The story is mostly told from Danny’s and Joanna’s alternating POVs. Once Danny slides deeply into his relationship with Joanna and neglects his wife and young son, the reader has a sense that Sally will find out and come back with a vengeance. This is the case, but the way in which it all evolves and the way the reader is able to watch as Danny’s life disintegrates is nicely done. As Danny’s life goes completely downhill (divorce, child custody issues, etc.) he seeks help from a psychiatrist, and by the end of the novel there is a ray of hope for both Danny and Joanna.
This novel is very fast paced, and there were several well-done surprises.
I have followed Jill Shtulman on GR for several years, and I have found her frequent reviews to provide excellent analysis and also to be quite useful as I select books. It is such a pleasure to see her publish this novel. I hope this is the first of many!
The story is mostly told from Danny’s and Joanna’s alternating POVs. Once Danny slides deeply into his relationship with Joanna and neglects his wife and young son, the reader has a sense that Sally will find out and come back with a vengeance. This is the case, but the way in which it all evolves and the way the reader is able to watch as Danny’s life disintegrates is nicely done. As Danny’s life goes completely downhill (divorce, child custody issues, etc.) he seeks help from a psychiatrist, and by the end of the novel there is a ray of hope for both Danny and Joanna.
This novel is very fast paced, and there were several well-done surprises.
I have followed Jill Shtulman on GR for several years, and I have found her frequent reviews to provide excellent analysis and also to be quite useful as I select books. It is such a pleasure to see her publish this novel. I hope this is the first of many!
June 28, 2024
My college roommate wrote a book, and it’s a dandy! Danny Monahan is an attractive account executive who is successful at his career but a cheater in his romantic interests. Danny has a difficult childhood, and those pathetic parents of his are partly to blame for his lack of personal attachments. The apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree, when Danny becomes distant from his own son, Charlie. I do feel sorry for the women in Danny’s life, especially his wife Sally, but there are ways for women to overcome the negative aspects of failed relationships. I would love to see another novel about Danny’s coworker Joanna.
May 6, 2025
Jill Shtulman's exploration of trauma and its effect in relationships is a page-turner. The book is written in the voice of four characters -- Danny, who suffered unbelievable traumas as a young boy; Joanna, in search of a meaningful human connection; Sally, Danny's wife whose family represents everything Danny never had; and, in the end, Reba, Danny's colleague who plays a significant role in the last part of the novel. I enjoyed the perspective of each of the characters.
June 4, 2024
Dear Reader,
I'm so glad you're here! Thank you for considering Lost in a Masquerade as your next read.
Completing this book has been a dream come true for me. I'm gratified that so many readers are discovering the story of Danny, who experienced childhood trauma, and the three women who love him. Think of Mad Men meets Prince of Tides and get ready for some twists and turns.
Thank you!
Jill
I'm so glad you're here! Thank you for considering Lost in a Masquerade as your next read.
Completing this book has been a dream come true for me. I'm gratified that so many readers are discovering the story of Danny, who experienced childhood trauma, and the three women who love him. Think of Mad Men meets Prince of Tides and get ready for some twists and turns.
Thank you!
Jill
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews