The Light Tower

by Laurie Lisa

In this dramatic mystery, a daughter returns to Chicago to find the truth about a mother she never knew - and her tragic death. Will her journey bring answers or more questions?

Thirty years ago in Chicago, a troubled, full-term pregnant woman escapes from the maternity ward of a hospital and climbs to the top of a 100-foot light tower in an abandoned railway yard. Melody Arnold is convinced that her baby is dead, and neither reassurances from her doctor nor the fact that she is a nurse can convince her otherwise. She jumps. Melody doesn't survive, but miraculously, when the paramedics arrive, a tiny foot protrudes from the woman's stomach, twitching.

Now, Kat Flowers is living in Arizona and celebrating her 30th birthday. Stuck in a rut of dead-end jobs and a failed relationship, she receives a cryptic birthday card from a father she ran away from 14 years ago. Desperate for answers, Kat takes a journey back to Illinois to see a family she left behind and learn the truth about a mother she never knew. Kat shares the journey with the charismatic Zen, who has his own reasons for returning home. There, Kat tries to solve the complicated mystery of her mother's identity...and then understand why she made that tragic leap.

A compelling novel about a mother's dark secrets, The Light Tower explores the lasting connection between a mother and her daughter, even when they never knew each other.

This story about one family's hidden past is a riveting must-listen.

Author Laurie Lisa once again shines through with this incredibly tragic yet real and loving story of a mother and her daughter whose lives were tragically torn apart one fateful day.

Laurie Lisa is a prolific writer of upmarket women’s fiction, with nine completed novels. You can learn more about Laurie and join her Reader List at her website, LaureLisa.com.

Genres: Suspense

Audible Audio

Published October 7, 2021

About the author

Laurie was born and raised in small towns in Southern Illinois. She obtained her B.S. in English Education from the University of Illinois, where she also met and then married her husband Steve. Laurie earned both a M.A. and a Ph.D. in English, 20th-century American Literature, from Arizona State University, where she also taught literature and composition. In addition to her eight novels, Laurie has published two academic books, several short stories and poems, and edited other's works. After much time spent in Academia and raising her three children (Anthony, Michelle, and Caitlin), Laurie returned to her passion for writing fiction. She is a prolific writer and typically completes one novel each year. Laurie resides with her husband, Steve, in Paradise Valley and Flagstaff, Arizona.

Reviews

[Foxy Vixen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks GR for giving me this book. Very interesting book. Plot grabbed you from the very beginning and kept your interest until the very end.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Review

This was a truly powerful, emotionally-driven narrative. Author Laurie Lisa once again shines through with this incredibly tragic yet real and loving story of a mother and her daughter, whose lives were tragically torn apart one fateful day. As Kat works to solve the mystery of why her mother Melody met such a tragic fate, readers are given a glimpse into some powerful storytelling that touches on the struggles so many faces in our world today.

From mental health and addiction to family and love, the author does a brilliant job of bringing these themes to life within the core story. The best and most engaging aspect of this novel however is the characters, as their arcs and the slow unraveling of the mystery surrounding this horrific event are heightened by the growth they undergo as time goes on. The anger and pain Kat feels at her mother’s fate and Melody’s despair and helplessness as time goes on are all traits so many people can identify with, and allows the reader to feel these emotions as the story progresses.

The Verdict

A moving, evenly-paced, and emotionally-driven narrative, author Laurie Lisa’s “The Light Tower” is a must-read mystery and drama read of 2021. The depth of character development the author presents and the heartfelt emotions that are poured into the themes of this narrative are truly engaging on every level. If you haven’t yet, preorder or grab your copy today!

[Joyce Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

I couldn’t stop reading this book. Every chance I had I would read more
I am a nurse so able to relate to much of the story. Drug addiction is a true tragedy and beyond sad.

[Kathy Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good beach read! Or winter by the fireplace read! The characters are well-developed and the story is compelling!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Laurie Lisa and Goodreads for my giveaway copy!

Oh how quick are we to judge?! When I started this book I had no idea what I was about to read and how much I would want to keep reading it and the emotions that I felt while reading it. I'm going to do my best here to give my review without spoilers or giving a quick repeat of everything that's in the book.
From the beginning I thought, what would ever possess this woman to do what she did? So, good job Laurie Lisa I think that was exactly what you wanted me to wonder and it worked. That thought led me to want to continue to read every single page and realize just how quick we are to judge others and how often we don't take into account what the driving force is behind the way they act, the way they look, the impact their family or friends may have had on them and what kind of life they may be living. What exactly drives someone to do what they do?
There were some "coincidences" that seemed a little far fetched to be believable but if you can see past that and really read the story, overall it's quite impactful. It tells of friendship, family, love and/or the lack thereof, expectations, aspirations and loss and the circumstances that can change all of those things.
Again, thank you Laurie Lisa and Goodreads for a story that kept me turning the pages and gave me a gentle reminder to not be so quick to judge.

[Kathy Anderson-robitaille · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was enjoying this story until the author made the storyline a little too much, for my liking. So much so, that I did not complete the book and permanently deleted it from my Kindle.
The first thing that got me was the "inevitable" meeting of Zens Father and isnt it funny how he happened to be at the scene of her Mothers death?! The author could of made the story without this "coincidental " occurence.
Also, Sylvia having sex with her late Mothers various drug dealers?! C'mon!!
Then comes the part where Melody steals morphine from a dying man?! With that being said, these two girls are nurses and while attending nursing school figured they should know more about the drugs that they were going to be working with?! All this going on and Sylvia's Mother is a drug addict?!
Where did I get lost in this book?! Where did the story of a woman who was 9 months pregnant and jumped to her death from a water tower, leave me? The authors imagination for this story was a bit much for my liking and the actual story seemed to lose itself with her imagination.
Not impressed at all.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjjoyed the journey that involved searching for her past to understand her future.It made u think about how drugs affect the way a person thinks

[Bess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent it was a roller coaster ride, why she jumped from the light tower.

[April Cenciose · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story that would not end.

I liked the story line and the characters but omg it took forever to get thru this book. Just way tooooo long