What Comes After

A Novel

By: JoAnne Tompkins

Narrated by: Mark Deakins, Kristen DiMercurio, Kirby Heyborne

Runner Up for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize

Finalist for the Washington State Book Award

Edgar Prize Finalist for Best Debut Novel by an American Author

Shortlisted for the Prix Libre Nous, Best Foreign Book in French Translation

New York Times, Group Text Pick for April 2021

New York Times Editor's Choice Pick

Named a top beach read of summer by Oprah Daily, Good Housekeeping, The Wall Street Journal, and more

“Nail-biting wallop of a debut . . . a thoughtful, unexpectedly optimistic tale.” —The New York Times

“If you enjoyed The Searcher by Tana French, read What Comes After by JoAnne Tompkins. . . . a mystery—and a gritty meditation on loss and redemption, drenched in stillness and grief.” —The Washington Post

After the shocking death of two teenage boys tears apart a community in the Pacific Northwest, a mysterious pregnant girl emerges out of the woods and into the lives of those same boys’ families—a moving and hopeful novel about forgiveness and human connection.

In misty, coastal Washington State, Isaac lives alone with his dog, grieving the recent death of his teenage son, Daniel. Next door, Lorrie, a working single mother, struggles with a heinous act committed by her own teenage son. Separated by only a silvery stretch of trees, the two parents are emotionally stranded, isolated by their great losses—until an unfamiliar sixteen-year-old girl shows up, bridges the gap, and changes everything.

Evangeline’s arrival at first feels like a blessing, but she is also clearly hiding something. When Isaac, who has retreated into his Quaker faith, isn’t equipped to handle her alone, Lorrie forges her own relationship with the girl. Soon all three characters are forced to examine what really happened in their overlapping pasts, and what it all possibly means for a shared future.

With a propulsive mystery at its core, What Comes After offers an unforgettable story of loss and anger, but also of kindness and hope, courage and forgiveness. It is a deeply moving account of strangers and friends not only helping each other forward after tragedy but inspiring a new kind of family.

Beautiful!!!

I loved every second of this book. Sad but uplifting. Incredibly well written. Amazing characters. Wow! I cannot wait to read something else by this author.

Fascinating and so beautifully written!

This book kept my attention right up to the end. I loved the characters struggles with integrity and love. Issac’s relationship to his Quaker faith was fascinating and enlightening. His struggles are everyone’s struggles for strength and truth and self-honesty. The story or Lorie and her family is heartbreaking and yet beautiful as she is such a generous soul, inspite of of her multiple losses. And the heroine ! What a beautiful young woman, often more responsible than the adults she encounters. Loved this book. Can’t wait for the next one!

beautiful story

There were moments when I wish I had read this instead of listening to it only because I would have loved to have highlighted certain moments or phrases.

Very well done.

I went into this thinking it a mystery. It isn't -- or at least not THAT kind of mystery. We learn who-did-it early on, so the mystery shifts over to the Why and How people react, and those questions are played out with emotion and intelligence. The characters are complex : sometimes they're likeable, sometimes not, but I take that to be evidence that they are not cardboard cutouts but real people. The very end put me off just a bit, but that was entirely on me. The end was true to the characters. I think the author will be someone we'll hear great things about again.

Excellent performances by all three readers.

First Novels are Always the Best

I truly loved it. Well written; great story;well told. I will give the author another chance in the future.