Chosen by the New York Times as an Editors’ Choice and called “fascinating” by the Telegraph (UK) this riveting family drama—evocative of Angela’s Ashes and The Glass Castle—is about a woman who discovers the shocking secret at the center of her mother’s life. “The Secret Life of Dorothy Soames is the gripping true story of a daughter’s quest to find the truth about her mother’s origins—and, in the process, come to terms with her own life and choices. As she uncovers an increasingly dramatic tale of abuse, escape, and recovery, Justine Cowan must grapple with her complex feelings about this woman who, as she comes to learn, never had a real childhood of her own. A riveting, heartbreaking, and ultimately healing journey of discovery.”—Christina Baker Kline, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Orphan Train “Impressive. . . . This frank account of a real-life Dickensian dystopia captivates at every turn.”—Publishers Weekly