First Hands

by Anne J. Steinberg

When Trini Woodruff was just nine years old her mother Myra abandoned the family home in Denver, leaving her invalid husband and two daughters for a fresh start in New York. Determined to make something of her life, she was going to become a famous fashion designer. Now, twenty years later, Myra is dead. Forced to go to Manhattan to sort out her mother’s affairs, Trini is shocked at what she finds there. It 's apparent that Myra has been living two lives, one is real – that of a failed wife, mother and career woman, the other is a life of fantasy, which she’s played out as much as possible. And the two have finally merged, culminating in a tragically untimely death. But through the pain of facing afresh Myra’s abandonment and betrayal, Trini begins to face up to her own duplicity. For her life is also built on the fragile foundations of secrets, deception and guilt – and she now knows that she can’t live a lie forever. FIRST HANDS is a compelling novel about a woman’s journey of self-discovery, told with a hauntingly poignant and unforgettable voice, from the author of MANROOT, AN EYE FOR AN EAR, THE CUCKOOS GIFT, and EVERY TOWN NEEDS A RUSSIAN TEA ROOM.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 23, 2015

Reviews

[Jessica Sand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting topic, but a little forced.

Writing style wasn't my favorite and took a while for me to get used to. The mystery storyline was ok, but I liked the theme of a woman finding her calling and independence in New York more interesting.