Second Glance

Second Glance centers on Ross Wakeman, a ghost hunter who moves to Comtosook, Vermont to live with his sister after multiple failed suicide attempts following his fiancée's death. Upon his arrival, the small town experiences inexplicable supernatural events connected to a disputed piece of Abenaki tribal land. The plot connects multiple storylines across different time periods, bringing together a diverse group of characters including Ross's sister Shelby, her son who has a rare genetic condition, and a half-Abenaki police officer named Eli Rochert. A development company's plan to build a shopping mall on potentially sacred Native American land triggers a series of mysterious occurrences that force the characters to confront both historical and personal ghosts. The story weaves together elements of paranormal investigation, historical injustice, and genetic science through interconnected narratives spanning several decades in Vermont's history. A murder mystery from the past becomes increasingly relevant to present-day events as Ross investigates the supernatural phenomena. At its core, Second Glance examines how past actions echo through generations, exploring themes of grief, genetic heritage, and the complex relationship between science and spirituality. The novel raises questions about what we owe to both the dead and the living.

Readers describe Second Glance as a complex ghost story that weaves together multiple storylines across different time periods. Many found the historical elements about Vermont's eugenics program enlightening and disturbing. Readers appreciated: - The detailed research into eugenics history - The supernatural elements and ghost investigation scenes - The interconnected character relationships - The emotional depth of the love stories Common criticisms: - Too many characters and plotlines to follow - Slow pacing in the first third - Confusing timeline jumps - Some found the ending rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.96/5 (89,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (1,100+ reviews) Several readers noted it was "different from Picoult's usual style" but praised her handling of the paranormal elements. Multiple reviews mentioned struggling with the large cast of characters but finding the historical revelations worth pushing through the complex narrative structure.

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🌿 The novel addresses Vermont's dark history of eugenics programs from the 1920s-30s, which targeted Native Americans, French-Canadians, and other minority groups. 🔍 Author Jodi Picoult spent extensive time researching paranormal investigation techniques and equipment to accurately portray ghost hunting scenes in the book. ⚡ The character Ross Wakeman deliberately puts himself in dangerous situations hoping to reunite with his deceased fiancée - a plot element that explores the intersection of grief and risk-taking behavior. 🏺 The Abenaki tribal customs and beliefs featured in the book were developed through careful consultation with Native American cultural experts and tribe members. 🌙 The title "Second Glance" refers to both the supernatural elements of seeing ghosts and the book's theme of reconsidering historical events from new perspectives.