A Good House for Children: A Novel

The dazzling debut novel from Kate Collins--a feminist gothic mystery spanning decades, in the vein of Mexican Gothic and The Essex Serpent. Once upon a time Orla was: a woman, a painter, a lover. Now she is a mother and a wife, and when her husband Nick suggests that their city apartment has grown too small for their lives, she agrees, in part because she does agree, and in part because she is too tired to think about what she really does want. She agrees again when Nick announces with pride that he has found an antiquated Georgian house on the Dorset cliffs--a good house for children, he says, tons of space and gorgeous grounds. But as the family settles into the mansion--Nick absent all week, commuting to the city for work--Orla finds herself unsettled. She hears voices when no one is around; doors open and close on their own; and her son Sam, who has not spoken in six months, seems to have made an imaginary friend whose motives Orla does not trust. Four decades earlier, Lydia moves into the same house as a live-in nanny to a grieving family. Lydia, too, becomes aware of intangible presences in the large house, and she, like Orla four decades later, becomes increasingly fearful for the safety of the children in her care. But no one in either woman's life believes her: the stories seem fanciful, the stuff of magic and mayhem, sprung from the imaginations of hysterical women who spend too much time in the company of children. Are both families careening towards tragedy? Are Orla and Lydia seeing things that aren't there? What secrets is the house hiding? A feminist gothic tale perfectly suited for the current moment, A Good House for Children&nbsp;combines an atmospheric mystery with resonant themes of motherhood, madness, and the value of a woman's work.

Literature & Fiction

Collins, Kate

Literary

Mariner Books

"A feminist gothic that evokes Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House." -- New York Times Book Review Once upon a time Orla was: a woman, a painter, a lover. Now she is a mother and a wife, and when her husband Nick suggests that their city apartment has grown too small for their lives, she agrees, in part because she does agree, and in part because she is too tired to think about what she really does want. She agrees again when Nick announces with pride that he has found an antiquated Georgian house on the Dorset cliffs--a good house for children, he says, tons of space and gorgeous grounds. But as the family settles into the mansion--Nick absent all week, commuting to the city for work--Orla finds herself unsettled. She hears voices when no one is around; doors open and close on their own; and her son Sam, who has not spoken in six months, seems to have made an imaginary friend whose motives Orla does not trust. Four decades earlier, Lydia moves into the same house as a live-in nanny to a grieving family. Lydia, too, becomes aware of intangible presences in the large house, and she, like Orla four decades later, becomes increasingly fearful for the safety of the children in her care. But no one in either woman's life believes her: the stories seem fanciful, the stuff of magic and mayhem, sprung from the imaginations of hysterical women who spend too much time in the company of children. Are both families careening towards tragedy? Are Orla and Lydia seeing things that aren't there? What secrets is the house hiding? A feminist gothic tale perfectly suited for the current moment, A Good House for Children&nbsp;combines an atmospheric mystery with resonant themes of motherhood, madness, and the value of a woman's work.

Praised by reviewers for its combination of academic writing and grammar, this paragraph-to-essay-level text offers a step-by-step, cumulative approach to writing an academic paper. Beginning with the paragraph and culminating in a multi-paragraph summary essay, From Thought to Word examines the language of assignments and the corresponding language of responses.

From Thought to Word

Kesslen, Ann

Wadsworth Publishing

Abby Knight is the proud owner of her hometown flower shop, but a new low-cost competitor is killing her profits-and a black SUV just rammed her vintage Corvette in a hit-and-run. She's determined to track down the driver, but when the trail turns deadly, the next flower arrangement might be for her own funeral.

Mum's the Word (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 1)

Genre Fiction

BERKLEY

Me, Abby Knight, an entrepreneur! Who would have guessed when I flunked out of law school a year ago that I'd be standing here today in front of Bloomers, my very own flower shop? Even though I may be penniless, I am soundly devoted to my new profession...whether it means arranging a bouquet of flowers - or unearthing the seeds of murder. NEAR MRS. Abby's latest gig is the perfect marriage of her talents. Not only does her bride-to-be cousin, Jillian, want Abby to be a bridesmaid - she also wants her to sign on as floral designer and sleuth... Though nearly once a year Jillian has agreed to marry a different man, she has yet to make it to the altar. But this time, it's cold dead feet may stop the wedding. Before the couple says "I do," one of the groomsmen disappears and another member of the wedding party is found dead. Luckily for Abby, she has plenty of help - including her brassy been-there-done-that assistant, a hunky bar owner with a penchant for love and justice, and her own family. Together, they aim to unveil the truth...and make sure the bride still gets her day to shine.

Slay It with Flowers (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 2)

Well, it looks like my cousin Jillian is heading for the altar again, and guess which bridesmaid is doing the flowers? Yep, me, Abby Knight, law school dropout, owner of Bloomers, and - did I mention? - ex-fiancee to the best man! That's a bumper crop of trouble, even before I find a party-crashing guest dead at the reception... PUSHING UP DAISIES Abby has her hands full at Jillian's wedding, doing triple duty as florist, bridesmaid, and grandma-sitter - all while wearing a horrendous floral print that makes her look like a clown. But the real trouble starts when the groom's ninety-year-old grandma disappears from the reception. While hunting for her, Abby discovers the body of Jack Snyder, one of the guests, behind the minister's platform in the gazebo. And when Abby's assistant's new boyfriend becomes a suspect, she decides she must find out who killed Jack in the pulpit.

Dearly Depotted (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 3)

United States

When I swapped the thorny problems of law school for the budding business of my flower store, Bloomers, I vowed that I, Abby Knight, wouldn't be caught dead visiting that hateful campus ever again. But sometimes a girl's got to face down her dragons.... PLANT OF ATTACK Someone orders a black rose for Abby's old law school nemesis, Professor "Snapdragon" Puffer. But her plans for a speedy delivery are foiled when he catches her putting the bloom on his desk and sends it straight into the trash. Abby flees in terror, only to run smack into Carson Reed, the professor who recently had her arrested at an animal rights protest. After a biting exchange, Abby storms out of the building. But if there's anything she can't stand, it's injustice and bullies. So, even though she knows bad luck comes in threes, she ignores the advice of her sometimes boyfriend, hunk-a-licious Marco Salvare, and heads back in to retrieve her dignity and her flower--only to find the rose now decorating a dead professor, and herself the prime suspect....

Snipped in the Bud (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 4)

OK, I'll admit it: I, Abby Knight, actually love my hometown's corny annual Pickle Fest - and I've also been hoping the event will drum up business for my flower shop, Bloomers. But when the hired clown is found dead, the festivities screech to a halt... SWEET OR SOUR? Abby has been dating Marco - ex-cop, bartender, and all-around hunk - for several months when the Pickle Fest starts. But he's still a mystery to her. And after he disappears for a day, she's stunned to read in the paper: EX-COP QUESTIONED IN MAN'S DEATH. It seems the authorities have found Snuggles the Clown pushing up water-spurting daisies - and Marco was the last person seen leaving Snuggles's house. Abby knows in her bones that he's innocent. But why, when his life is on the line, is Marco being so secretive with her? And who is the attractive woman he escorted to the Pickle Fest? To do the legwork, she'll have to delve into the eerie clown underworld, where the smiles are fake and everyone has a trick up his sleeve...

Acts of Violets (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 5)

Why did I, Abby Knight, agree to attend a convention of funeral directors? I was desperate to drum up more business for my flower shop, Bloomers. What I got instead was murder... Who knew death could be so much fun? Abby is amused by the black humor of the usually somber "death professionals" who are attending the Midwestern Funeral Directors Association's regional convention. Even organizer Sybil Blount - known for her cutthroat business practices and the signature rose she wears in her wig - isn't what Abby expects...especially when her corpse is found in a casket. When Abby's friend Delilah Dove becomes a suspect, Abby shifts into full investigation mode and learns that Sybil's enemies include the prankster son of a big-time funeral director, an eco-friendly purveyor of "green burials," and a strange Goth girl who captures the "music" of departing souls on her tape recorder. It's up to Abby and her boyfriend, Marco, to look beyond the trappings of death and find out who really loved Sybil - and who loved her not.

A Rose from the Dead (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 6)

Last I heard, being a five-foot-two, green-eyed redhead wasn't a crime. But that's precisely why I, Abby Knight, was yanked out of my Corvette by a state trooper, handcuffed, and thrown in jail. This isn't your average case of mistaken identity. Eight years ago Abby babysat Elizabeth Blume, a teen who seemed intent on making Abby's life miserable. Elizabeth imitated Abby's dress, pored over her diary, and sabotaged her love life. Now Elizabeth is back in New Chapel, and she soon adopts a new look: Abby's. Elizabeth, now going by Libby, copies Abby's entire life - she even drives a bright yellow car and opens a nearly identical shop. But when Libby comes between Abby and her boyfriend, Marco, imitation becomes the sincerest form of trouble, and that's before Abby is accused of murder. Is Abby's devious double the real killer? Or is there a more sinister suspect in town who's using them both to cover his evil crime?

Shoots to Kill (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 7)

Obsidian

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Collins, Kate. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Collins, Kate

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Collins, Kate. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

A Good House for Children: A Novel

A Good House for Children: A Novel

From Thought to Word

Mum's the Word (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 1)

Slay It with Flowers (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 2)

Dearly Depotted (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 3)

Snipped in the Bud (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 4)

Acts of Violets (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 5)

A Rose from the Dead (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 6)

Shoots to Kill (Flower Shop Mysteries, No. 7)