Wrongful

By Lee Upton

When the famous novelist Mira Wallacz goes missing at the festival devoted to celebrating her work, the attendees assume the worst—and some hope for the worst. Ten years after the festival, Geneva Finch, an ideal reader, sets out to discover the truth about what happened to Mira Wallacz. A twisty literary mystery dealing with duplicity, envy, betrayal, and love between an entertainment agent and a self-deprecating former priest, Wrongful explores the many ways we can get everything wrong, time and again, even after we’re certain we discovered the truth.

Notices

“The characters in Wrongful have questions—lots of them—and Upton delivers the answers. In good time. After leading us on a merry chase over the roads of professional jealousy pockmarked with Schadenfreude and a generous dollop of snark.  All the reasons you read a novel for, really. The answers Upton finally delivers give rise to more—deeper—questions, which I am hoping will fuel a sequel.”

—Bathsheba Monk, author of the Swanson Herbinko Mystery Series

“Nimble, funny, playful, versatile Lee Upton has long been one of my favorite writers, and what a multilayered treat Wrongful is. Here we have all the usual joys of Upton’s prose—clever dialogue; great tonal range; psychological subtlety; a wit that’s razor-sharp without ever feeling mean-spirited—in service of a well-made and engrossing murder mystery. Is there any genre she can’t master, anything she can’t do?”

—Michael Griffith, author of Trophy and Bibliophilia

“This book is addictive. Lee Upton has created a world of characters you won’t want to say goodbye to. Her writing is sharp, surprising, and entertaining. I love Wrongful for its humor and wisdom, but also for the characters that keep you guessing.”

—Olivia Clare Friedman, author of Here Lies


Lee Upton’s poetry has appeared in The New Yorker, The New Republic, Poetry, and in many other journals as well as three editions of Best American Poetry. She is the author of books of poetry, fiction, and literary criticism.

pub date: 2025-05-01
$21.95 | 242 pages
isbn: 978-1-963846-21-8 (paperback)