Review: Jenny Kidd by Laury A Egan

 

Jenny Kidd (revised edition)

by Laury A. Egan

Publication Date: October 18, 2025

Spectrum Books, London

ISBN: 978-1-915905-61-1

182 pages. $15.99 paperback, $5.99 eBook

Cover photo: St. Mark’s Square by Thomas Stewart

Available at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0FR4GWMKP

“A twisted and sinister affaire macabre.”

—R.D. Hartwell

While spending autumn in Venice, a young American artist, Jenny Kidd, hopes to create a portfolio of paintings to launch her career and establish her independence from her tyrannical father. At the Guggenheim Collec-tion, she encounters Randi, a colorful British woman, who invites her to a masked ball at the Palazzo Barbon. There, she meets the seductive Caterina Barbon and her brother, Sebastiano, who entice Jenny into a world of glittering façades that cloak sexual per-version, art forgery, and murder. As Jenny struggles between her attraction to Caterina and her growing awareness that she is in danger, Jenny discovers an inner strength and spirit worthy of her infamous pirate ancestor.

“A little gem...a top-notch thriller…Jenny Kidd spins its web as languidly as an after-noon by the canals. Egan’s descriptions of the food, the art, and the general atmosphere are as purposeful as they are evocative. Her prose is full-bodied and elegant, and she makes prosecco and prosciutto as sumptuous as the work of Titian and Tintoretto. As delicious as Egan’s writing is when it comes to describing masked balls, four-course lunches, and miniatures painted in pastels, she also knows how to propel a mean action scene. The last twenty pages or so are a breathless rush of dark passageways, tense interrogations, and perfectly executed gore that leave you gasping and satisfied.”

—Jerry L. Wheeler, Out in Print

“A very compelling suspense novel, rife with stunning imagery and shocking plot beats. An eerie, glittering world.”

—Jennica Dotson, author of “A Reaper’s Folly”

“The plot becomes…dizzying in its twists and turns. Not only does this book offer a riveting story, but her sentences have a ca-dence that will carry you along. Once I had reached the half-way point in the book, I found it impossible to put it down.”

—Martha Miller, G & L Review

Laury A. Egan is the author of fifteen novels, including Fair Haven, Jack & I, The Psychologist’s Shadow, and The Black Leopard’s Kiss & The Writer Remembers in addition to two collections: Contrary: Stories and a Play and Fog and Other Stories, and four volumes of poetry. Laury is also a fine art photographer, who lives on the northern coast of New Jersey. Website: www.lauryaegan.com 

My Review: 

I have been a fan of Laury A Egan's books for awhile now. I was excited to have the opportunity to read her Jenny Kidd. I was far from being disappointed. Jenny's story had me holding on to the edge of my seat from the start. It was full of mystery, suspense, and intrigue. At under two hundred pages, I had it read in one sitting quickly. 

I am going to give Jenny Kidd four and a half stars. I believe those who love to read the genres of thriller, suspense, and mystery will not want to miss out on reading this one. As always, I will be eagerly awaiting more to come from the talented author, Laury A. Egan. 

I received a digital copy of Laury A Egan's Jenny Kidd from the author, but was not required to write a review, nor a positive one. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Review: Contrary: Stories and a Play by Laury A Egan

 

Contrary: Stories and a Play by Laury A Egan

Blurb: 

An eclectic mix of twenty-one stories and a two-act play, the collection includes comedic tales as well as some dark dives into human psychology. The settings span America, Britain, and Greece, and the characters range from young/old, rich/poor, and straight/gay, with a contrary beagle making a star turn as does a ghost or two. The conclusion, Duet, is an intimate drama featuring a therapist and a woman who is dealing with the aftermath of a plane crash and ensuing disability. Stylistically diverse, the work spans literary and genre fiction.

“I have long considered Laury A. Egan a master of the short story. This collection sets that view in concrete. Bravo!”—T.D. Johnston, author of Reciprocity and Friday Afternoon and Other Stories

Contrary is a vivid portrayal of the human condition in its many varied forms. Through a series of short stories and one play, author Laury A. Egan provides empathetic, thought-provoking commentary on class, gender, sexuality, age, abuse, and disability. At the heart of each difference, an Other-ing from the mainstream. By spotlighting the diversity of the Other, Contrary contradictorily leaves the reader with a feeling of togetherness and the hope for a brighter future.”—Jennica Dotson, author of “A Reaper’s Folly”

Meet the Author:

Photo by Vicki DeVico

Laury A. Egan is the author of fourteen books of fiction: Jack & I; The Black Leopard’s Kiss & The Writer Remembers; The Psychologist’s Shadow; The Firefly; Once, Upon an Island; Wave in D Minor; Doublecrossed; Turnabout; The Swimmer; The Ungodly Hour; A Bittersweet Tale; Fabulous! An Opera Buffa; The Outcast Oracle; and Jenny Kidd, with two titles forthcoming in 2025: Fair Haven and a new story/play collection, Contrary. Her stories have been collected in Fog and Other Stories, and her short fiction and poems have appeared in 85 literary journals and in multiple anthologies. Two full-length poetry volumes, Snow, Shadow, a Stranger and Beneath the Lion’s Paw, were issued in limited edition, as were two chapbooks, Presence & Absence and The Sea & Beyond. Laury is also a fine arts photographer, a former book designer, and a reviewer for The New York Journal of Books. She lives on the northern coast of New Jersey. 

Connect with the Author:

https://www.facebook.com/laury.egan/

https://twitter.com/eganlaury

https://www.instagram.com/laurya.egan/

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Laury-A.-Egan/author/B005IDKXRY

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4090464.Laury_A_Egan

My Review: 

Contrary is a collection of diverse short stories from author, Laury A. Egan. There are over twenty stories and a play in this collection. With the exception of the play, the stories are no more than eight, nine pages long, which I found easy to read the whole book on a busy schedule. Within this thought provoking collection, I found drama, curiosity, emotions, and intrigue. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Five stars is what I believe Contrary deserves. I believe fans of short stories, dramas, and plays will enjoy it, as well. I would love to read more collections like this one from Laury A. Egan in the future. I thought her talent really shines through in this one.

I received a digital copy of Laury A Egan's Contrary from the author, but was not required to write a review, nor a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Review: Fair Haven by Laury A Egan

 

Fair Haven

by Laury A Egan

A picturesque riverside town. A safe, serene, friendly place. And then, one sunny summer afternoon in 1994, Sally Ann Shaffer is electrocuted in her hot tub. Who did it? One of her many lovers? Her husband? A thief? A jealous colleague at her tennis club? Fair Haven is suddenly embroiled in suspicion, interpersonal conflict, blackmail, financial fraud, and murder.

Fair Haven shares sympathies with the British crime drama, Midsomer Murders, because of its small-town setting and its diverse cast, any of whom could be the killer (except Cagney, the beagle, who leavens the plot). The primary characters include Chris Clarke, hired to photograph the crime scene and involved with Kate Morgan, a woman fighting for custody of her son (Kate has a past history with Sally Ann Shaffer); the police chief, Ray Mackie, an experienced cop who must step aside in the investigation in favor of Vincent Rivera (Rivera reports to the Major Crimes Bureau). Other players are Detective Dave DeMarco, who is coordinating the local police effort; Harry Fallon, Kate Morgan’s drunken ex-husband and a long-time lover of Sally Ann; and R.J. Baines, a realtor hiding her lesbianism and her affair with the deceased. The relationships between these characters, as well as with a tennis pro, husband, priest, and a financial fraudster, provide rich opportunities for intrigue and moments of quiet humor.

“The pace never lagged, and I was as invested in the character dramas as I was in the murder mystery itself. Which is great, given how much the story is really about those people and their community and their ties to one another…a delightfully messy tangle of motives and reasonable suspects. Classic murder mystery shenanigans. Fair Haven [is] a very worthy entry in the genre.”—Jennica Dotson, author of “A Reaper’s Folly”

Enigma Books. Pub Date: January 11, 2025 / 6 x 9 inches. Paperback and eBook. Cover design by Laury A. Egan and Andrew May. Cover photograph by Mark Schwartz.

Meet the Author:

Photo by Vicki DeVico

Laury A. Egan is the author of fourteen books of fiction: Jack & I; The Black Leopard’s Kiss & The Writer Remembers; The Psychologist’s Shadow; The Firefly; Once, Upon an Island; Wave in D Minor; Doublecrossed; Turnabout; The Swimmer; The Ungodly Hour; A Bittersweet Tale; Fabulous! An Opera Buffa; The Outcast Oracle; and Jenny Kidd, with two titles forthcoming in 2025: Fair Haven and a new story/play collection, Contrary. Her stories have been collected in Fog and Other Stories, and her short fiction and poems have appeared in 85 literary journals and in multiple anthologies. Two full-length poetry volumes, Snow, Shadow, a Stranger and Beneath the Lion’s Paw, were issued in limited edition, as were two chapbooks, Presence & Absence and The Sea & Beyond. Laury is also a fine arts photographer, a former book designer, and a reviewer for The New York Journal of Books. She lives on the northern coast of New Jersey. 

Connect with the Author:

https://www.facebook.com/laury.egan/

https://twitter.com/eganlaury

https://www.instagram.com/laurya.egan/

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Laury-A.-Egan/author/B005IDKXRY

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4090464.Laury_A_Egan

My Review: 

I have had the joy of reading Laury A Egan's books in the past. I was honored to have the opportunity to read their newest release, Fair Haven. Oh my goodness. I was far from being disappointed. It was full of so much mystery and suspense. I was left guessing of who done it up until the last few pages. Once I was thinking I had it all figured it out, another twist happens. There was no way I would have been able to predict the ending. 

I am going to give Fair Haven a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read suspense filled mysteries. I believe they will love it as much as me. 

I received a digital copy of Laury A Egan's Fair Haven from the author, but was not required to write a review, nor a positive one. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.  

Review: Jack and I by Laury A Egan

 

Jack & I by Laury A. Egan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Blurb: 

A psychological suspense novel about two teenage boys. The twist? They're both named Jack and both inhabit the same body. "Mostly I was relieved to put some distance between Jack and myself, although this wasn't possible because I am Jack, too. And sort of not Jack. I am I, or rather, I am me."1994. Jack Kennett is 16 and suffers from undiagnosed Dissociative Identity Disorder (Multiple Personality Disorder). Abandoned at age two, Jack has been in the New Jersey care system all his foster homes and once placed for adoption with the Kennetts, a family he adored, especially their daughter, Cara. As the divisive war between the two personalities escalates, Jack (the host) is in despair and feeling powerless as he experiences amnesiac events and must deal with his alter's promiscuity, truancy, and illegal acts. How will the war between the personalities end?

My Review: 

Jack & I is another fabulous book written by the talented Laury A Egan. It is one that makes a reader really think. It is full of mystery and suspense. It was interesting to learn more about different mental health disorders. I thought the author did a great job at writing a unique plot, fascinating characters, and one with unpredictable twists. There were a few scenes that had me wondering what was going on and leaving me a little perplexed until a few pages later. I loved reading it.
I am giving Jack & I five stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading suspenseful novels. I would love to read more books from Laury A Egan in the future.
I received a digital copy of Laury A Egan's Jack & I but was not required to write a review, nor a positive one. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

View all my reviews

Blog Tour and Guest Post: The Black Leopard's Kiss & The Writer Remembers by Laury A. Egan

 

Book Details:

Book Title: The Black Leopard's Kiss & The Writer Remembers by Laury A. Egan
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+), 306 pages
Genre:  Literary, with magical realism
Publisher:  Spectrum Books
Release Date: Dec 16, 2023
Content Rating:  PG + M.  Language is moderate; scenes of attempted incest and lesbian encounter.  

Spotlight Book Tour: The Psychologist's Shadow by Laury A Egan

 

Book Details:

Book Title:  The Psychologist's Shadow by Laury A. Egan
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+), 336 pages
Genre:  Psychological Suspense
Publisher:  Enigma Books, imprint of Spectrum Books, UK
Release date:   Nov 18, 2023
Content Rating:  PG-13. One scene of violence, no sexual scene
​

---

“…a ‘I-read-it-in-two-days’ book. Egan creates a gifted analyst and gripping case studies of her clients, one of whom is a disturbed admirer. The novel delivers chills in a highly sophisticated, wise, and ultimately poignant psychodrama.”—Karla Linn Merrifield, author of Psyche’s Scroll

---

Click Here to Read Book Excerpt

Book Description:

In October 1992, Dr. Ellen Haskell begins a new therapy practice in Princeton after a tragic error with a former client. Demoralized by her failure, Ellen strives to restore her emotional and professional confidence. Her parents have departed for Greece, leaving Ellen alone in their secluded country house. As the reader is introduced to her roster of clients through their individual sessions, Ellen becomes unnerved when she receives hang-up phone calls and a series of bizarre gifts from an anonymous admirer—at first at her office and then at home. As the obsessive lover increasingly invades her life, Ellen’s anxiety crescendos and she begins to fear the stalker’s behavior will escalate into violence.

The Psychologist’s Shadow is a portrait of a compassionate, introspective therapist who finds herself in a dangerous struggle with an unknown stalker. The novel is a simmering literary suspense, one in which tension accumulates as the reader gains insights during sessions with clients—one of whom may be the psychologist’s shadow—and through the stalker’s journal entries, which serve as a discordant counterpoint.

Buy the Book:
Amazon 
add to Goodreads

Also available at all other fine bookstores!

Meet the Author:

Laury A. Egan is the author of eleven novels, The Firefly; Once, Upon an Island; Wave in D Minor; Turnabout; Doublecrossed; The Swimmer; The Ungodly Hour; A Bittersweet Tale; Fabulous! An Opera Buffa; The Outcast Oracle; and Jenny Kidd; in addition to a collection, Fog and Other Stories. Four limited-edition poetry volumes have been published: Snow, Shadows, a Stranger; Beneath the Lion’s Paw; The Sea & Beyond" and Presence & Absence."She lives on the northern coast of New Jersey.

connect with author: website ~ X/twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Interview: 

1. When did you begin writing?

My first poem was composed at age seven, while I was sitting in a bathtub. I shouted for my mother to bring me paper and a pencil and then wrote four stanzas, which astonished me as much as it did my mother. I continued to write poems, a local newspaper, and then my first novel (age 12); stories and poems in high school, which were published in the school’s literary magazine; and then mostly poems after that until I began phasing out my career as a book designer. Why did I originally begin writing? While I don’t recall specifically what touched off that first poem, most of my early work honored nature. I lived in a beautiful area, on the northern coast of New Jersey, on a high hill above the Atlantic Ocean and Lower Hudson Bay, with views of the Manhattan skyline in the distance. Behind our house was a forest; to the south was a rolling meadow. While my poetry has been described as lyrical, much of my fiction is also sensitive to setting, perhaps reflecting poetic tendencies, but also my artistic background as a fine arts photographer. 

2. Besides the natural beauty of your area, why did you begin writing and when did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I was an only child, without grandparents or close younger relatives, and lived several miles from school. My mother was an artist who painted all day in her studio (door closed); my father was a building contractor who usually worked late and on weekends. As a result, I didn’t have many social opportunities, nor did I fit in with many of my classmates. I began writing as self-entertainment, but also to create worlds where I could live, characters who could become friends, and as a way to examine what I thought and felt. Then and now, I’ve always been an observer—an important trait for a writer—and one shared by Dr. Ellen Haskell in The Psychologist’s Shadow, who also describes a childhood somewhat similar to my own. As for when I assumed the identity of a writer, this happened at a very young age—I knew this was who I was and what I wanted to do. Unfortunately, when applying to colleges, I veered from this goal and attended Carnegie Mellon University, receiving a degree in graphic design and photography. How I wish I’d accepted Bennington or Bard in creative writing instead! My publishing career would have started in my twenties instead of much later.

3. What were the challenges you faced writing The Psychologist’s Shadow?

This novel was begun in 1992—my third attempt at long fiction except for my early teenage effort and one unpublished work. I don’t recall when I finished the first draft or how many rounds I did until I undertook a serious and more experienced revision in recent years. But my growing knowledge about writing surely improved the work, which I hope is reflected in the present incarnation. 

One of the most challenging aspects was to create a diverse roster of clients, each with his or her unique voice, behavior, history, dress, and psychological issues. The client’s dialogue and manner had to be consistent with the person’s background and the mental/emotional problems presented. While this was a wonderful opportunity to play therapist, it was also a daunting task.

4. What is your typical writing schedule and how long do you take to write a book?

I tend to work seven days a week, almost all day, although writing comprises only a modest percentage of the hours spent at my desk. More time is devoted to marketing and promotional outreach (activities I don’t enjoy!), revising (often 30-40+ rounds prior to professional editing), corresponding with publishers and editors, and—in my case (and a pleasure)—creating cover designs and sometimes photographing images, such as the mask still-life illustration for The Psychologist’s Shadow. As for the total writing time, from start to finish, it varies. This current book is one of the longest in process. Usually, a first draft takes about eight or nine months, but the heavy lifting comes during revision. This stage can take equal or greater time compared to the initial writing.

5. Some writers say they don’t read books in their genre while they have a book in process in that genre. Is that true of you?

No. Rarely do I encounter distractions due to reading in a genre similar to the one I’m working in, though sometimes I’m inspired to improve my style or to consider structural reorganizations, such as adding a prologue. Because I write in different categories, I also enjoy reading widely, though most of my selections are mysteries or suspense novels. Currently, I’m binging on Nordic Noir—Lilja Sigurðardóttir, Jo Nesbø, Ragnar Jónasson, with a sprinkling of UK titles by Val McDermid, Mari Hannah, and my favorite, Kate Atkinson, whose style and plotting make me terrifically envious.  

6. If readers want to learn more about you and your books, are you on social media?

Yes. My website www.lauryaegan.com displays a complete list and descriptions of my published and forthcoming titles, with pages devoted to my poetry collections and photography. I’m most active on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laury.egan/ or X/Twitter: LauryA.Egan@EganLaury Sometimes, I post on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurya.egan/ And, though I mostly include reviews of books I’m reading, readers may follow my blog: http://www.lauryaeganblog.wordpress.com/

Thank you for featuring my novel!