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The Laws of Attraction
At 88-years old Ben Everett is killed by a loose truck tire that smashes into his windshield and his grieving family soon discovers that he has left his multi-million dollar estate to his new 24-year old wife, Susannah McCreedy. When the marriage and the will are challenged in court, Susannah claims to be the reincarnation of Ben’s first wife, Rose. This quickly hits the national wires and the small town of New City is turned into a circus with reporters, demonstrators, believers and non-believers jeering at each other across from the steps of the courthouse, and the trial takes on biblical proportions with testimony from an academic expert on reincarnation. A no nonsense judge, two zealous attorneys, including one who was himself the child of a May-December marriage, an old friend of Rose’s, Ben’s three sons, a small town jury and an old-time private investigator who scours the country searching for Susannah’s past make for a rather unusual and somewhat comical trial to determine whether there is indeed life after death.
- GenresFiction
342 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2014
14 people are currently reading
1407 people want to read
About the author
Howard R. Reiss
13 books84 followersan ordinary life is Howard’s twelfth novel.
Pyramid on the Hudson, Howard’s eleventh novel, takes place when a 170-year-old corpse turns up at the site of the new mall being built in Nyack, NY. The police chief’s lucid dreams take him back to Nyack in 1855. While he can’t stop the murder, he does try to find a way to stop the mall.
Starlight Shines Far, Howard’s tenth novel, is a story about healing . . . healing the Earth, as well as healing a broken heart.
The '60s Diary, Howard Reiss' ninth novel, will send you on a journey through time from Rose's first love to her time at Woodstock...from self-discovery and happiness to tragedy and rebirth.
Accidental Lives, Howard Reiss’ eighth novel, tells the story of two lives dramatically changed by coincidences of time and place.
A Lover’s Secret, Howard’s seventh novel. It was inspired by three very different thoughts . . . the mental illnesses that often went undiagnosed and untreated back in the middle of the twentieth century, especially among children . . . how time moved so slow when we were young and seems to speed up as we age . . . and how the internet (and Facebook) sometimes changes our relationship with the past. Readers’ Favorite calls this a “very engrossing” “unique romance.”
The Texture of Love, Howard’s sixth novel, was inspired by his love of Nabokov. On the 50th anniversary of Lolita, he decided to reverse the story and have a younger woman become obsessed with an older man.
The Old Drive-In, Howard’s fifth novel, is a nostalgic reflection on what could have been. If we can’t really go home again, can we discover something everlasting if we try? Readers' Favorite wishes they could give this book "more than 5 stars." IndieReader says this novel has "richly defined characters and weaves in themes of regret and nostalgia throughout this nuanced romance."
P Town, Howard’s fourth novel, was inspired by a lifetime of visits to Provincetown, a magical town at the tip of Cape Cod. The mix of people, the art, the street music, and the color make it a great place to hide in plain sight. P Town is a multiple award winner; winning the Silver Medal in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Awards in the Contemporary Romance category, as well as the 2016 Los Angeles Book Festival in the Spiritual category. IndieReader says P Town is “beautifully written from beginning to end” and Readers’ Favorite calls it an “unforgettable read.”
The Laws of Attraction, Howard’s third novel is an insightful and quirky legal thriller about a courtroom battle over the estate of the elderly patriarch who leaves everything to his young wife who claims to be the reincarnate of his first wife. It leads to a rather unusual and somewhat comical trial to determine whether or not there is life after death. This novel is a Readers’ Favorite 5 star “guilty reading pleasure.”
Howard’s second novel, The Year of Soup was inspired by a dinner at a small restaurant in Northampton, Mass. when an old professorial looking gentlemen with a bottle of wine in a paper bag sat down at a table in the corner and was immediately joined by the young, female proprietor and chef. Although he couldn’t hear their conversation, he tried to imagine it, and their stories as well. This novel received the Silver Medal for Best Fiction in the North-East Region at the Independent Publisher Book Awards in 2013.
Howard’s first novel, A Family Institution, published in 2011, was based on a true incident involving the discovery of an aunt hidden from the family who spent most of her life in Pilgrim State Hospital. The main character’s quest for the truth about what happened takes him to Pilgrim State where he takes a job in the records department, learns a lot about how the mentally ill and, in particular, his aunt was treated in the 1950s, and in the process turns his life and family upside down. It’s a serious subject approached with a strong comic touch and has been a growing favorite of book clubs around t
Pyramid on the Hudson, Howard’s eleventh novel, takes place when a 170-year-old corpse turns up at the site of the new mall being built in Nyack, NY. The police chief’s lucid dreams take him back to Nyack in 1855. While he can’t stop the murder, he does try to find a way to stop the mall.
Starlight Shines Far, Howard’s tenth novel, is a story about healing . . . healing the Earth, as well as healing a broken heart.
The '60s Diary, Howard Reiss' ninth novel, will send you on a journey through time from Rose's first love to her time at Woodstock...from self-discovery and happiness to tragedy and rebirth.
Accidental Lives, Howard Reiss’ eighth novel, tells the story of two lives dramatically changed by coincidences of time and place.
A Lover’s Secret, Howard’s seventh novel. It was inspired by three very different thoughts . . . the mental illnesses that often went undiagnosed and untreated back in the middle of the twentieth century, especially among children . . . how time moved so slow when we were young and seems to speed up as we age . . . and how the internet (and Facebook) sometimes changes our relationship with the past. Readers’ Favorite calls this a “very engrossing” “unique romance.”
The Texture of Love, Howard’s sixth novel, was inspired by his love of Nabokov. On the 50th anniversary of Lolita, he decided to reverse the story and have a younger woman become obsessed with an older man.
The Old Drive-In, Howard’s fifth novel, is a nostalgic reflection on what could have been. If we can’t really go home again, can we discover something everlasting if we try? Readers' Favorite wishes they could give this book "more than 5 stars." IndieReader says this novel has "richly defined characters and weaves in themes of regret and nostalgia throughout this nuanced romance."
P Town, Howard’s fourth novel, was inspired by a lifetime of visits to Provincetown, a magical town at the tip of Cape Cod. The mix of people, the art, the street music, and the color make it a great place to hide in plain sight. P Town is a multiple award winner; winning the Silver Medal in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Awards in the Contemporary Romance category, as well as the 2016 Los Angeles Book Festival in the Spiritual category. IndieReader says P Town is “beautifully written from beginning to end” and Readers’ Favorite calls it an “unforgettable read.”
The Laws of Attraction, Howard’s third novel is an insightful and quirky legal thriller about a courtroom battle over the estate of the elderly patriarch who leaves everything to his young wife who claims to be the reincarnate of his first wife. It leads to a rather unusual and somewhat comical trial to determine whether or not there is life after death. This novel is a Readers’ Favorite 5 star “guilty reading pleasure.”
Howard’s second novel, The Year of Soup was inspired by a dinner at a small restaurant in Northampton, Mass. when an old professorial looking gentlemen with a bottle of wine in a paper bag sat down at a table in the corner and was immediately joined by the young, female proprietor and chef. Although he couldn’t hear their conversation, he tried to imagine it, and their stories as well. This novel received the Silver Medal for Best Fiction in the North-East Region at the Independent Publisher Book Awards in 2013.
Howard’s first novel, A Family Institution, published in 2011, was based on a true incident involving the discovery of an aunt hidden from the family who spent most of her life in Pilgrim State Hospital. The main character’s quest for the truth about what happened takes him to Pilgrim State where he takes a job in the records department, learns a lot about how the mentally ill and, in particular, his aunt was treated in the 1950s, and in the process turns his life and family upside down. It’s a serious subject approached with a strong comic touch and has been a growing favorite of book clubs around t
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 10, 2015
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
I'm so glad I did!
I thought this book was great, a definite page turner.
The story takes place almost entirely within a court room.
Susannah is the widow of Ben. Ben was 88, Susannah 24. They were married less than a year when he died and left everything to her.
His family is very skeptical, they think their dad was tricked into changing his will. The previous one of course would have left everything to his kids and grandkids.
Then a bombshell is dropped, Susannah says she is the reincarnation of Ben's first wife Rose who died over 25 years ago.
Can either side really prove their side to be correct and the other side wrong?
I thought both sides were likable characters and both sides making good points. Was Ben reunited with his first wife? Or was he taken advantage of? Does Susannah deserve everything? Even if she is Rose, wouldn't her/Ben's family deserve something when he died?
A lot to think about and you'll be tearing through the book very anxious to see what the final outcome will be.
I enjoyed it very much and I loved the last few pages.
I'm so glad I did!
I thought this book was great, a definite page turner.
The story takes place almost entirely within a court room.
Susannah is the widow of Ben. Ben was 88, Susannah 24. They were married less than a year when he died and left everything to her.
His family is very skeptical, they think their dad was tricked into changing his will. The previous one of course would have left everything to his kids and grandkids.
Then a bombshell is dropped, Susannah says she is the reincarnation of Ben's first wife Rose who died over 25 years ago.
Can either side really prove their side to be correct and the other side wrong?
I thought both sides were likable characters and both sides making good points. Was Ben reunited with his first wife? Or was he taken advantage of? Does Susannah deserve everything? Even if she is Rose, wouldn't her/Ben's family deserve something when he died?
A lot to think about and you'll be tearing through the book very anxious to see what the final outcome will be.
I enjoyed it very much and I loved the last few pages.
January 6, 2015
A great read about love, loss and family. This novel kept me up late into the night.
It is definitely a page-turner.
I highly recommend this book.
It is definitely a page-turner.
I highly recommend this book.
June 5, 2017
PRAISE FROM THE MEDIA
Readers' Favorite gives The Laws of Attraction 5 stars!
This is "a very insightful and quirky legal thriller" where "nothing is what it seems at first." "This intelligent mystery" is a "guilty reading pleasure."
-Readers’ Favorite
Readers' Favorite says Howard Reiss is skilled "at making characters seem real and lovable in the space of a few pages or paragraphs."
-Readers' Favorite
The Midwest Book Review calls Howard Reiss "an especially gifted storyteller with a knack for creating fully developed characters and original storylines that engage the readers complete attention from first page to last."
-Midwest Book Review
Readers' Favorite gives The Laws of Attraction 5 stars!
This is "a very insightful and quirky legal thriller" where "nothing is what it seems at first." "This intelligent mystery" is a "guilty reading pleasure."
-Readers’ Favorite
Readers' Favorite says Howard Reiss is skilled "at making characters seem real and lovable in the space of a few pages or paragraphs."
-Readers' Favorite
The Midwest Book Review calls Howard Reiss "an especially gifted storyteller with a knack for creating fully developed characters and original storylines that engage the readers complete attention from first page to last."
-Midwest Book Review
May 26, 2015
A great story about the trials and tribulations that occur within a family. This novel tells the story of an epic fight over an old man's estate. When the elderly man dies and leaves his entire estate to his new, very young wife, his sons are understandably upset. They hire an attorney to fight this will in court, however the man's young wife surprises everyone when she claims to be the reincarnate of his first wife who died many years ago. This leads to a fast-paced and exciting trial to determine who should get the estate. I loved learning about each character as the trial unfolded.
And I love, love, loved the ending.
(I won’t say anything else so I don’t give away any spoilers.)
And I love, love, loved the ending.
(I won’t say anything else so I don’t give away any spoilers.)
August 3, 2015
I won this book on Goodreads.
It is a delightful tale of reincarnation and love. It mainly takes place as the story of the court hearing between the three sons and their step-mother of 10 months when their father/husband of 88 years is killed in a car accident leaving a very large fortune. It is well written being clear, humorous, interesting and just a little mysterious keeping you guessing until the very end. I enjoyed this book very much.
It is a delightful tale of reincarnation and love. It mainly takes place as the story of the court hearing between the three sons and their step-mother of 10 months when their father/husband of 88 years is killed in a car accident leaving a very large fortune. It is well written being clear, humorous, interesting and just a little mysterious keeping you guessing until the very end. I enjoyed this book very much.
January 6, 2015
An exciting read. Couldn't wait to see how it ended!
January 26, 2015
Certainly one of the best I've read, thus far.
January 6, 2015
Another great story by this author.
February 18, 2017
This is not a book that I would have typically bought or read, however, I am glad I got this book.. It is not a typical love story, nor is it a sci-fi, and yet it hold the suspense of both or maybe even a murder mystery...There are plenty of twists and turns, and bends in the road on this book, yet it is written very clearly.. It ties up nicely and not suddenly.. This is as clear cut book and I would recommend it to anyone who has interest or no interest in this sort of story..It was entertaining, and had an easy flow to it.. The only complaint I do have about this book is that I think the summation part of the trial could have been shortened as by the time you get through the trial you pretty much know what the summation will be anyway, but since it does not tie up that many pages it really is no thing at all.
Plot
Susanna is supposedly the re-incarnated soul of Ben's late wife Rose who had previously died 25 years earlier..She had sought out her husband from her previous life and had married him again in the new life.. Ben's will has changed and now 50 million dollars goes to Susanna and not the children of the 88 year old Ben.. The case is taken to trial and both parties must prove why or why not Rose's life is re-incarnated in Susana.. Is she re-incarnated, Does she get the money, the house, and the memories that are within? It is up to the jury to decide..
Plot
Susanna is supposedly the re-incarnated soul of Ben's late wife Rose who had previously died 25 years earlier..She had sought out her husband from her previous life and had married him again in the new life.. Ben's will has changed and now 50 million dollars goes to Susanna and not the children of the 88 year old Ben.. The case is taken to trial and both parties must prove why or why not Rose's life is re-incarnated in Susana.. Is she re-incarnated, Does she get the money, the house, and the memories that are within? It is up to the jury to decide..
October 29, 2014
A great story about the trials and tribulations that occur within a family. This novel tells the story of an epic fight over an old man's estate. When the elderly man dies and leaves his entire estate to his new, very young wife, his sons are understandably upset. They hire an attorney to fight this will in court, however the man's young wife surprises everyone when she claims to be the reincarnate of his first wife who died many years ago. This leads to a fast-paced and exciting trial to determine who should get the estate. I loved learning about each character as the trial unfolded.
And I love, love, loved the ending.
(I won’t say anything else so I don’t give away any spoilers.)
And I love, love, loved the ending.
(I won’t say anything else so I don’t give away any spoilers.)
May 3, 2016
I received a copy of this for free through Goodreads First Reads
This book was very well written, easy to follow, and quick to read. I ended up hating Susannah almost right from the beginning, and I still hated her at the end. Regardless if her belief was true, she still took advantage. Overall a very good book that I would recommend.
This book was very well written, easy to follow, and quick to read. I ended up hating Susannah almost right from the beginning, and I still hated her at the end. Regardless if her belief was true, she still took advantage. Overall a very good book that I would recommend.
August 16, 2015
I really recommend it, it's interesting in the right ways
October 23, 2015
An enjoyable read!
This was an enjoyable read! It kept me interested and kept the pages turning. I would recommend this book to others.
This was an enjoyable read! It kept me interested and kept the pages turning. I would recommend this book to others.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews