In “Ocean State,” O’Nan is subverting the thriller, borrowing its momentum to propel this bracing, chilling novel. Whereas thrillers tend to use murders as a prurient jumping-off point, the entryway to the reader’s pleasure — that chance to play Columbo or Kinsey Millhone in our heads — O’Nan takes his time, humanizing this story to make the hole where the victim was suitably substantial.
Mary Pols, The New York Times, “A Thriller Wrapped in a Story of Sisters and First Love”
| TUESDAY 03/15 | Pittsburgh, PA | WHITE WHALE BOOKSTORE In-person event In conversation with William Lychack Register HERE | 7pm ET |
| MONDAY 03/21 | Chicago, IL | THE BOOK STALL, BOOK CELLAR, BOOKS AND CO. Virtual event In conversation with Nicholas Butler Register HERE | 7pm CT |
| TUESDAY 03/22 | Phoenix, AZ | POISONED PEN Virtual event In conversation with Michael Koryla Register here HERE | 3pm PDT |
| TUESDAY 04/05 | Milwaukee, WI | BOSWELL BOOK COMPANY In conversation with Chris Lee Virtual event Register HERE | 7pm CT |
| WEDNESDAY 04/06 | Madison, CT | RJ JULIA BOOKSELLERS In person | 7pm ET |
| THURSDAY 04/07 | Westerly, RI | SAVOY BOOKSHOP In partnership with Ashaway Free Library In-person event Register HERE | 6pm ET |
| THURSDAY 04/14 | Pittsburgh, PA | RIVER RUN BOOKSTORE McCandless Crossing location In-person event | 7:30pm ET |
| TUESDAY 04/19 | Bexley, OH | GRAMERCY BOOKS Virtual Event Joint event with Susan Straight Register HERE | 7pm ET |
| MONDAY 06/06 | Pittsburgh, PA | CITY OF ASYLUM In -person event | 7pm ET |
“Ocean State” is the story of a murder, but it wouldn’t be right to call it a mystery, because the killer’s identity is established in the very first sentence. Even as he inverts the form, veteran novelist Stewart O’Nan effectively keeps you turning the pages quickly with this tragic story of teenage love.
“Told through multiple voices, “Ocean State” examines the murder of a young girl” – StarTribune
Despite the banal surface, this novel invites us in — we want to know these people, learn about their complexities. In the end, they’re as interesting as you or I; O’Nan’s great gift is that we want to know more about every person he writes, no matter how unremarkable they seem from the outside.
“A murder in the suburbs – Ennui meets passion in O’Nan’s latest novel” – Boston Globe
In the first pages of this reversed psychological thriller, we learn that teenage Angel has killed a girl; soon there’s little question as to whom and why. (“Love.”) In flashbacks, the suspense comes from peeling back the layers in Stewart O’Nan’s immersive character studies.
“8 New Books To Read This Month” – Vanity Fair
In Person Book Launch!
White Whale Bookstore
4754 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15224
White Whale is so excited to welcome Stewart O’Nan back to the store for the launch of his latest novel: Ocean State! Our booksellers are already raving about it, so make sure you add this event to your calendar and come on out to celebrate.
From Riverstone Books:
Best-selling author Jennifer Haigh will join Pittsburgh’s own Stewart O’Nan in a conversation on writing, story-telling, and fiction that moves us.
REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE
Jennifer Haigh is the author of the short story collection News from Heaven and six bestselling and critically acclaimed novels, including Heat and Light, Faith, and Mrs. Kimble. Her books have won both the PEN/Hemingway Award for debut fiction and the PEN/L.L. Winship Award for work by a New England writer. Her short fiction has been published widely, in The Atlantic, Granta, The Best American Short Stories, and many other places. She lives in New England.
Stewart O’Nan is a native Pittsburgher and an Allderdice grad (Go Dragons!). His novels include Snow Angels, set in Butler, Everyday People, in East Liberty, and Emily, Alone and Henry, Himself, in Highland Park.
The Works of Stewart O'Nan 