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Sign up todayThe Wayside
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Learn moreThe Wayside is a haunting, elegantly drawn psychological thriller perfect for fans of The Secret History, Big Little Lies, and The Maidens.
When Kate Cleary’s son, Jake, dies at his elite liberal arts college, she refuses to believe it was suicide. Something sinister is at play, and Kate becomes determined to retrace Jake’s steps during his final days. Descending into a spiral of obsession as she finds herself up against unknown forces at every turn, Kate falls further into a dangerous mystery that brings her closer to a terrifying truth even Jake himself wanted to keep hidden.
Combining elements of dark academia and domestic fiction with a modern twist, The Wayside is a sharply observed story of suspense, devotion, and the secrets we keep from those who love us most.
Caroline Wolff is a writer and editor. She holds an MFA in Fiction from New York University, where she also taught undergraduate creative writing. She lives in downtown Manhattan. The Wayside is her first novel.
Lauren Fortgang lives in New York City where she currently works as an actor and voiceover artist. She was born in Wilmington, DE. She had early training at A.C.T.'s Young Conservatory and is a graduate of Fordham University: College at Lincoln Center, where she majored in theater. Her curiosity for finding new niches in the industry has afforded her a broad career spectrum as an actor, singer, spokesperson, audiobook narrator, podcaster, and even costume designer.
Reviews
“The Wayside, Caroline Wolff’s exquisitely written debut novel, paints a compelling portrait of grieving mother, Kate Cleary, who returns to her son Jake’s prestigious liberal arts college to investigate the circumstances surrounding his mysterious death. Gothic undertones pervade the eerie campus setting as Kate discovers secrets about Jake’s past. Brimming with atmosphere, this haunting new voice in dark academia will delight fans of Alex Michaelides’s The Maidens, Diane Setterfield’s The Thirteenth Tale, and M. L. Rio’s If We Were Villains.”
“Caroline Wolff’s The Wayside has everything—the right kind of psychology and twists and turns for a wonderful, can’t-put-down thriller!”
“An academic thriller in the vein of The Secret History but with its own brilliant pulse, Caroline Wolff’s The Wayside is a twisty meditation on grief and the haunting pursuit for answers. I couldn’t stop the pages from turning. Read this great debut novel now!”
“Prepare to be enthralled by The Wayside, a riveting exploration of the human psyche and the haunting truths that lie beneath the surface.”
“Fans of academic mysteries like Donna Tartt’s Secret History and Alex Michaelides’s The Maidens will feel compelled to seek this out.”
“[An] emotional thriller…Fortgang’s empathetic performance captures the roller-coaster emotions of a mother who is in the depths of grief. Fortgang’s pacing and distinct characters give listeners the eerie feeling that they, and Kate, are just once clue away from getting to the bottom of the two deaths.”
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