Death of a New American is out in paperback today. Usually when a book comes out, I head to the stores, snap pictures of it on the tables. (Make sure it is on the tables.) But today I can’t. Today I am in self-imposed quarantine. Many bookstores are closed. New York City is quiet. The markets have collapsed. People are losing their jobs and their savings. Promoting a book right now feels…myopic.
So I’ll just talk a little about Death of a New American. It was hard to write and I am proud of it. Of all the characters I’ve worked with, Jane Prescott is my favorite. I’ve written two more Jane Prescott novels since this book. But this one gave me days that were among the best in many years of writing.
The New American in question is a young Italian woman who is the nanny to the Tyler family. She is found murdered in the nursery, her throat cut. The window is wide open. Italian gangs are suspected; it’s a kidnapping gone wrong. The murder threatens to overshadow the wedding of Louise Benchley and William Tyler.
At the heart of the story are the issues of family and immigration. Who do we let into our worlds? Who do we try to keep out and why? What are the fears of the newcomer? Will they prosper in this new land, this new family? Or will the reception be hostile, even predatory? Does the danger come from outside or within?
Right now, I am enclosed with my family. I am doing what I love. My pantry is full. I feel safe from the disease that is out in the world.
But I miss the world horribly. My son misses his friends. My husband misses his colleagues. I am worried about people far from me. I miss the rough and tumble, bustling, bumping, agitated life of the city. I don’t feel friendly to everyone I encounter on a crowded street. (People who walk with phones, we have to talk.) But life in defensive seclusion is small. Ultimately, it weakens you. I miss sharing the space.
If you’re thinking of buying New American, please consider one of our wonderful small bookstores. They are hurting right now and they do take online orders!