An acclaimed master of suspense creates a heroine you will never forget in this superbly chilling novel of a woman who begins a desperate undertaking that may transform her life — or end it.What happens if your worst fears aren’t all in your mind?Rae Newborn is a woman on the edge: on the edge of sanity, on the edge of tragedy, and now on the edge of the world. She has moved to an island at the … to an island at the far reaches of the continent to restore the house of an equally haunted figure, her mysterious great-uncle; but as her life begins to rebuild itself along with the house, his story starts to wrap around hers. Powerful forces are stirring, but Rae cannot see where her reality leaves off and his fate begins.
Fifty-two years old, Rae must battle the feelings that have long tormented her — panic, melancholy, and a skin-crawling sense of watchers behind the trees. Before she came here, she believed that most of the things she feared existed only in her mind. And who can say, as disturbing incidents multiply, if any of the watchers on Folly Island might be real? Is Rae paranoid, as her family and the police believe, or is the threat real? Is the island alive with promise — or with dangers?
With Folly, award-winning author Laurie R. King once again powerfully redefines psychological suspense on a sophisticated and harrowing new level, and proves why legions of readers and reviewers have named her a master of the genre.
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There are so many things that I love about this book, it’s hard to list them all. The main character has dealt with debilitating depression and come out the other side. She has tragically lost her husband and young daughter, which causes her to go through a mental breakdown. How does she decide to bring herself back to normalcy? Move to a once inhabited, now deserted island in the Pacific Northwest to rebuild a “folly” of a house.
Once there, King describes the process of building the house and the process of Rae re-building her sanity. Both are fascinating to read about. There is a central mystery about the island to keep you even more interested! The characters in this book are so believable, Rae’s backstory is so intriguing, you won’t want the story to end. Everyone I have recommended this to has loved it!
Loved this book! Highly recommended!
This was my first ARC. I received it in 2001 when you gave your feedback directly to the publisher. It is my most favorite book. It came at a time when I was newly diagnosed with PTSD after 5 years of wandering lost with no diagnosis. King gave me Rae, a woman who was so much more than just a shared name. While Rae struggled with a different diagnosis than me, we both struggled together. It gave me hope that things could get better. That I must have some strength to have made it that far, and I could learn about that strength, and see where it could take me. Folly was a lifeline for me. I’ve reread it countless times, and as I write this review after reading it yet again, I find the kinship I felt with Rae swimming back to the surface, with renewed hope and strength.
Thank you, Laurie, for Folly. For Rae and the feeling that while life takes constant effort and hard work, it’s a life worth fighting for.
Possibly my favorite book of all time. Well-written; the storylines hang together cogently and there’s are no loose ends. The story moves to its conclusion at an even pace (unlike some stories where the last chapter wraps things up quickly and often carelessly).
I wanted to move to this island after reading the book and build a home.
Ms. King is a poetic literary writer. Very special indeed.
Ms. King has created an amazing blueprint for survival in this novel. It’s a remarkable gift to the world, and a true testament to the strength that exists in the human spirit.
Completely different from Laurie R. King’s Sherlock Holmes books – I loved it.
Laurie R King is one of my favorite authors and once again she has written something that is entertaining and fun to read.
Not my typical book to read, but it was very interesting and kept you turning pages until the very last page.
Different from her series books. The lead character draws the reader into her world and holds interest to the end.
Interesting building a house all by yourself
Unusual main character and plot was a refreshing change from so many cookie cutter stories available at present . Parallel current and historic story lines made sense and added interest. Main weakness is that the plot couldn’t decide what it was – a mystery (most successful), a family history (successful), a current family/current issues drama (less interesting and less believable), or thriller/chiller (not very successful).
Laurie King has long been a favorite. In “Folly” she explores older age, taking on a project that others shake their heads over, the increasing need for solitude as we age, the importance of taking risks and becoming vulnerable… in a wordsmith such as she, the external plot is beautifully interwoven with the internal renewal and spirit of the main character. This is well worth a slow savoring.