📖 Overview
Alice LaPlante is an American author and writing instructor known for her psychological thrillers and her work teaching creative writing at Stanford University and San Francisco State University.
Her 2011 debut novel "Turn of Mind" received widespread recognition, winning the Wellcome Trust Book Prize and becoming a New York Times bestseller. The book follows a retired orthopedic surgeon with dementia who becomes implicated in her best friend's murder.
LaPlante has authored several books on writing craft, including "Method and Madness: The Making of a Story" and "The Making of a Story: A Norton Guide to Creative Writing." These texts are frequently used in university creative writing programs.
Beyond her fiction and craft books, LaPlante's work has appeared in various publications including Epoch, Ploughshares, and The Atlantic Monthly. Her second novel, "Coming of Age at the End of Days," was published in 2015 and explores themes of religious fundamentalism and mental illness.
👀 Reviews
Readers value LaPlante's ability to create unreliable narrators and handle themes of memory loss and cognitive decline, particularly in "Turn of Mind." Many reviews note her accurate portrayal of dementia, with several readers who work in healthcare praising the medical authenticity.
Readers appreciate:
- Complex character development
- Research and attention to medical detail
- Integration of mystery elements with psychological depth
Common criticisms:
- Slow pacing, especially in middle sections
- Confusing narrative jumps
- Some find the endings unsatisfying
Ratings:
Goodreads:
- Turn of Mind: 3.7/5 (13,000+ ratings)
- A Circle of Wives: 3.4/5 (3,000+ ratings)
- Half Moon Bay: 3.3/5 (1,000+ ratings)
Amazon:
- Turn of Mind: 4.1/5
- A Circle of Wives: 3.9/5
- Half Moon Bay: 3.7/5
"The dementia perspective feels eerily authentic," notes one healthcare worker reviewer. Another states: "Great concept but loses momentum halfway through."
📚 Books by Alice LaPlante
Method and Madness: The Making of a Story (2009)
A writing instruction textbook covering fiction fundamentals including character development, point of view, dialogue, and revision techniques.
Turn of Mind (2011) A murder mystery narrated by a surgeon with Alzheimer's disease who may have killed her best friend.
A Circle of Wives (2014) A detective investigates the death of a prominent doctor whose secret polygamous lifestyle is revealed after his murder.
Half Moon Bay (2018) A woman who lost her teenage daughter moves to a small California coastal town where local girls begin disappearing.
Coming of Age at the End of Days (2015) A 16-year-old girl becomes involved with an apocalyptic religious cult after battling depression.
The Making of a Story: A Norton Guide to Creative Writing (2007) A comprehensive creative writing guide covering both fiction and nonfiction, with readings and exercises.
Turn of Mind (2011) A murder mystery narrated by a surgeon with Alzheimer's disease who may have killed her best friend.
A Circle of Wives (2014) A detective investigates the death of a prominent doctor whose secret polygamous lifestyle is revealed after his murder.
Half Moon Bay (2018) A woman who lost her teenage daughter moves to a small California coastal town where local girls begin disappearing.
Coming of Age at the End of Days (2015) A 16-year-old girl becomes involved with an apocalyptic religious cult after battling depression.
The Making of a Story: A Norton Guide to Creative Writing (2007) A comprehensive creative writing guide covering both fiction and nonfiction, with readings and exercises.