A Likely Story

A Likely Story, is such a fun mystery novel written by Leigh McMullan Abramson.

Written as a coming of age story about Isabel Manning who grows up the daughter of a famous author, Ward Manning,  and her mother, Claire, the perfect society hostess.  Ward is the epitome of a selfish self  made man.  He thinks only of himself and never wants to reveal the low income family he left behind.   

Claire, who cam from a wealthy family but has put her devotion to her husband and his career before everything else.  Until she has her daughter Isabelle.  Isabelle becomes here reason for staying in the marriage and she focuses all her energy creating a wonderful life for her daughter.   Ward, who never wanted children, now finds he loves encouraging his daughter to emulate him. For Isabelle, being an author becomes her life's dream.  

When her mother dies unexpectedly,  Ward and Isabelle's lives are turned upside down.  Their worlds were dependent on Claire for success and connection.  As Isabelle struggles to write a publishable novel, Ward is struggling to write his final work.  He tries a variety of ways to find the inspiration that usually helps him write and nothing is working.    Isabelle is looking for her father's adulation and publication and neither are coming through. Though the one person who adores her, Brian tries to be there for Isabelle she cannot see how he cares and ignores him.

The novel moves through the narrative with different voices telling the story from different viewpoints, and there are secrets and unexplained tragedies that are revealed slowly as the plot unfolds.

When Isabelle finally discovers what her mother sacrificed and her father hid from her , all her relationships are changed forever.  Can Isabelle find the satisfactory fairytale ending that every good novel desires?