The Sabbathday River
The Sabbathday River by Jean Hanff Korelitz, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux in 1999, is a compelling narrative set in the town of Godard, New Hampshire. This first edition spans 499 pages and is presented in English. The story begins on a warm September morning in 1985 when Naomi Roth discovers the drowned body of a newborn girl in the Sabbathday River. As the community quickly identifies Heather Pratt, a young single mother, as the prime suspect, Heather confesses after intense police interrogation, leading to a complex unraveling of events.
Readers will find a gripping exploration of mystery and legal drama as Naomi, feeling a deep sense of injustice for Heather, seeks the assistance of lawyer Judith Friedman to defend her. The narrative delves into themes of community judgment and personal revelation, as Naomi confronts her own understanding of her town and the people within it. With elements of fiction, mystery, and the legal system, this book invites readers to engage with the intricacies of human relationships and societal expectations.
Official synopsis Publisher
One warm September morning in 1985, not far from the town of Godard, New Hampshire, Naomi Roth finds the drowned body of a newborn baby girl floating in the Sabbathday River. The community rapidly fingers Heather Pratt, a young single mother notorious for her affair with a married man, as the prime suspect, and after intensive interrogation by the police, Heather confesses to the crime. When Naomi, following Heather’s directions, uncovers the body of a second infant — who was born on the same day as the other baby — on Heather’s property, she assumes charges against the girl will be dropped. Instead, to Naomi’s amazement, Heather is charged with the murder of both infants.
Naomi, herself something of an outcast in conservative Goddard, is moved and angered by Heather’s plight, and engages the help of Judith Friedman, a lawyer, to defend her. But when the truth at the heart of this astonishing case finally comes to light, it is Naomi who must confront how little she has truly understood about her town, her friend, and herself.
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