Things We Once Held Dear

“It is a joy to savor Tatlock’s stories.”— Publisher’s Weekly

“Highly recommended for all collections.” — Library Journal, Starred Review!

New Yorker Neil Sadler returns to his hometown of Mason, Ohio, where his small-town life had been rocked by the suspicious death of Helen Syfert, the mother of Neil’s friend Mary. He reconnects with Mary. Their once-close relationship hadn’t been strong enough to survive the tragedy that overtook Mary’s family, yet what drove them apart years ago now seems to be drawing them back together. But Neil is struggling to recover from a more recent loss. Yet the mystery of Helen’s death remains unsolved, and to bring closure will mean facing old truths—hard truths—and discovering some new ones.