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Jessica Treadway
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Lacy Eye: A Novel Kindle Edition

by Jessica Treadway (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 1,446 ratings
A haunting, evocative novel about a woman who might have to face the disturbing truth about her own daughter.

Hanna and Joe send their awkward daughter Dawn off to college hoping that she will finally "come into her own." When she brings her new boyfriend, Rud, to her sister's wedding, her parents try to suppress their troubling impressions of him for Dawn's sake. Not long after, Hanna and Joe suffer a savage attack at home, resulting in Joe's death and Hanna's severe injury and memory loss.

Rud is convicted of the crime, and the community speculates that Dawn may also have been involved. When Rud wins an appeal and Dawn returns to live in the family home, Hanna resolves to recall that traumatic night so she can testify in the retrial, exonerate her daughter, and keep her husband's murderer in jail.

But as those memories resurface, Hanna faces the question of whether she knows her own daughter-and whether she ever did.
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  1. Print length
    353 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Grand Central Publishing
  4. Publication date
    May 10, 2016
  5. File size
    3.4 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Deftly plotted... Treadway paints a devastating portrait of a family torn apart from both the outside and within."―Publishers Weekly

"An intricately plotted psychological thriller."
―The Chicago Tribune

"Since her debut story collection 'Absent Without Leave,' came out in 1992, Jessica Treadway has wowed critics with resonant depictions of flawed, all-too-human characters."
―The Boston Globe

"Quietly disturbing...nail-bitingly suspenseful."―The Columbus Dispatch

"Complex and nuanced...an author to watch."
―Reviewing the Evidence

"Treadway is a deft hand at crafting complex mysteries...asks provocative questions."―The Reading Nook

About the Author

Jessica Treadway is the author of Lacy Eye, And Give You Peace, and two story collections, Absent Without Leave and Other Stories and Please Come Back to Me, which received the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction. A professor at Emerson College in Boston, she lives with her husband in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00LLIJ0H4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grand Central Publishing (May 10, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 10, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 353 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 1,446 ratings

About the author

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Jessica Treadway

Jessica Treadway

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Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
1,446 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this novel engaging, describing it as a page-turner with a complex plot that builds suspense without sacrificing believability. The writing is well-executed, with slow reveals that maintain interest throughout, and customers appreciate its thought-provoking nature, keeping them guessing until the end. Customers describe it as hard to put down and emotionally resonant, though opinions on character development are mixed, with some liking them while others find them totally unlikeable.

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62 customers mention "Interest"51 positive11 negative

Customers find the book engaging, describing it as a great psychological thriller with a complex plot that builds suspense without sacrificing believability.

"...Okay I will stop now before I give anything away; this is a taut psychological thriller that I think would be fabulous for a book club because right..." Read more

"This is a very dark depressing story. It was interesting, but not really believable to me. The mother is just too clueless...." Read more

"...this book to anyone who enjoys a story with some expected/unexpected twists and turns and excited to turn each page watching this story unfold. 🕊..." Read more

"...This story was interesting from beginning to end and keeps us guessing until the end." Read more

62 customers mention "Readability"55 positive7 negative

Customers find the book engaging, describing it as a page turner that's great for book club discussions. One customer particularly appreciates the character development.

"...; this is a taut psychological thriller that I think would be fabulous for a book club because right now I wish I had a friend who had also read..." Read more

"...Is an interesting read and once you start you want to get to the end and find out what happens...." Read more

"I loved all the characters in the book. The author did an excellent job helping me to know and understand the personalities of each person and how..." Read more

"...I am about to finish it, but found it to be a definite page turner. I highly recommend it." Read more

27 customers mention "Writing quality"24 positive3 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, describing it as well-written and compulsively readable, with one customer noting its literary depth and insight.

"...Ellen Archer’s narration was very well done I thought the tones and sarcasm she gave Iris were perfect and also her narration of Dawn showed us that..." Read more

"This is a unique and well written account of a mother who like so many of us, doesn't want to see her children "clearly"...." Read more

"...I thought the author did a great job and I look forward to her next book...definitely a great read." Read more

"What a great find this book was. Jessica Treadway is a unique writer that I intend to follow...." Read more

18 customers mention "Pacing"13 positive5 negative

Customers appreciate the pacing of the book, noting its well-paced narrative with slow reveals that build suspense, making it a fast read that is fabulously woven.

"...moves between memories and the present to tell the story but does it very smoothly. I had no trouble following the story...." Read more

"...Hannah's circumstance, but that is what makes it so interesting and riveting...." Read more

"A Good book. I would recommend it to friends. A fast read . Kept you turning the pages for more answers. A good mystery." Read more

"...Kind of slow moving. Glad I read it. I will read her other book, Give You Peace...but not right now." Read more

16 customers mention "Insight"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, keeping them guessing throughout and offering plenty to discuss. One customer particularly appreciates the psychological depth, while another notes how it provides insight into a mother's love.

"...author did an excellent job helping me to know and understand the personalities of each person and how they interacted with others...." Read more

"...The writer did a great job of exploring the family dynamic between the characters and although I knew what was coming, it didn't make this book any..." Read more

"...Great book for a book club! Already has all the question and topic of discussion. Plus this is an awesome book!" Read more

"As a psychologist I really appreciated the verisimilitude of the psychology of every one of the characters in this terrific novel...." Read more

4 customers mention "Difficulty to put down"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book hard to put down.

"It is very suspenseful and kept me reading. In fact, I could not put the book down...." Read more

"This book is hard to put down . I couldn't wait to hear what happened...." Read more

"...This murder mystery kept me reading and not wanting to put the book down. Kudos!" Read more

"This book was an incredible read which was difficult to put down. There wasn't one page that needed editing...." Read more

3 customers mention "Emotional content"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book emotionally engaging, with one describing it as a heartbreaking story.

"...Jessica Treadway is a unique writer that I intend to follow. Kind of sad, suspenseful novel where one of the daughters of the narrator is an..." Read more

"...A compelling and heartbreaking story with unexpected twists a la Gillian Flynn. Hard to put down." Read more

"Wonderful, taut and emotional..." Read more

15 customers mention "Character development"7 positive8 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the characters in the book, with some really liking them while others find them totally unlikeable.

"...All the characters seemed off from reality. I gave it 3 stars because it was interesting, but don't read this if you are in a down mood." Read more

"...Also I felt I had an intimate knowledge of the main character. I understood her emotions as a woman, a wife, mother, grandmother and a companion...." Read more

"...None of the characters were appealing, and as Hanna's desperate attempts to make sense of the events of that tragic night come to fruition, a..." Read more

"...The author has totally created memorable characters...ones I like and ones that gave me the creeps...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • MissSusie66
    5.0 out of 5 stars Audiobook review
    Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This was quite a story it kept me on the edge of my seat, especially when you listen to it as a mother and wonder what would you think and feel? Would you also stand up for your daughter even when everyone else thinks she’s guilty? There’s no way you could have raised a daughter who had a hand in killing her father and left you severely beaten and left for dead. Yes, your daughter has always been a bit odd and was bullied and teased as a child because of a lazy eye but she isn’t a monster right??!!??

    I had a hard time putting this one down, I needed to know if Hanna was right or if she had just let one of her attackers back into her home. Yes there were times when I thought Hanna open your eyes and listen to what everyone is telling you but then when you look at it from a mother’s perspective of always defending and protecting your child I could understand where she was coming from.

    I also liked the way this is written almost from inside Hanna’s head who doesn’t remember anything about the night of the attack but that night when a police officer asked her who did this she implicated her daughter Dawn and her boyfriend Rud. Rud ends up in prison but Dawn is never indicted because her roommate gives her an alibi. A lot of the book is Hanna going through memories of Dawn’s life, I think in her own way trying to justify why she said Dawn did it because she can’t come to terms with the possibility that her daughter had anything to do with it. There are times in these memories when you feel so bad for Dawn and how her classmates and even her own sister, Iris, treated her but there are other times especially in the present day that made the hair on the back of my neck stand up and wonder if Hanna is wrong about everything.

    Okay I will stop now before I give anything away; this is a taut psychological thriller that I think would be fabulous for a book club because right now I wish I had a friend who had also read this book so I could talk to them about it. This is a powerful story and especially as a mother will pull at your heartstrings and leave you with a lot of “What if this happened to me?” questions.

    Ellen Archer’s narration was very well done I thought the tones and sarcasm she gave Iris were perfect and also her narration of Dawn showed us that she really never grew up and seemed stunted as a child/teen. And with Hanna so much of the book is inside her head and I liked that I could tell when she was speaking to someone or just remembering things. I would definitely listen to this narrator again.

    This was my first read by this author and I am now curious about her other books and will search them out.

    4 ½ Stars
    4 people found this helpful
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  • donna phibbs
    4.0 out of 5 stars it can happen and that is the sad part. Shows how people who are susceptible can ...
    Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    You start reading the book and you are hopeful that what you are thinking is going to happen isn't the case BUT it turns out you were right. Is an interesting read and once you start you want to get to the end and find out what happens. Unfortunately, it can happen and that is the sad part. Shows how people who are susceptible can be manipulated into doing bad things. Good read and would read another book by her.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Barbara Quick
    3.0 out of 5 stars You don't go from being a little weird to a brazen murderer just like that. All the characters seemed off from reality
    Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is a very dark depressing story. It was interesting, but not really believable to me. The mother is just too clueless. I realize she was attacked and had residual effect, but she was clueless before that. The daughter is not believable either. You don't go from being a little weird to a brazen murderer just like that. All the characters seemed off from reality. I gave it 3 stars because it was interesting, but don't read this if you are in a down mood.
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  • Bird Lover
    5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular Read
    Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I loved all the characters in the book. The author did an excellent job helping me to know and understand the personalities of each person and how they interacted with others. Also I felt I had an intimate knowledge of the main character. I understood her emotions as a woman, a wife, mother, grandmother and a companion. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a story with some expected/unexpected twists and turns and excited to turn each page watching this story unfold. 🕊
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Bonnie Auxier
    4.0 out of 5 stars Denial can be Deadly
    Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Have you ever looked back on a situation and said to yourself, "Oh, that's why....". Or "I thought it was weird when.....".It's amazing as parents how we can see ourselves in certain behaviors or personas of our children. We overlook our children's quirks and habits and try to make everything better by giving the love and attention we so wanted as a child. This is a story of a second child with a "lazy eye" who was not well liked at school because of her personality, and who was bullied and teased because of her facial " condition". When bad things start to happen who is at fault? This story was interesting from beginning to end and keeps us guessing until the end.
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  • Lindany52
    5.0 out of 5 stars I HAD to know how it ended!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Hanna, the mom, was brutally attacked in her home - at the same time her husband was killed and her dog was brutally attacked. She was able to identify the attacker as her daughter's boyfriend before she passed out and was put into an induced coma for a long period of time. When she came out of the coma she could not remember anything about the incident. She was told that she tried to identify her daughter as being involved (by nodding) before she passed out, but that was felt to be "iffy" and she adamantly denies that her daughter could have been involved. The boyfriend is charged, found guilty, and incarcerated, but her daughter is not brought up for trial. As we learn about the daughter, Dawn, we find out that Dawn had multiple problems growing up, including a lazy eye, learning disabilities and the like. Additionally she had social problems (possibly aspergers in my opinion) which cause her to be a social pariah growing up. Everyone except Hanna (mom) seems to believe that Dawn WAS involved in the murder/attack. Was she? This is what catches us as readers - the need to have the answer to that question. We don't find out until the end and it was impossible for me to stop reading until I knew. I got the first 4 chapters free on my kindle and when I finished chapter 4 I went back to Amazon and purchased the kindle version of the book as I HAD to know...................
    12 people found this helpful
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  • lizzy
    4.0 out of 5 stars THE PRICE OF ROSE COLORED GLASSES
    Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    This is a unique and well written account of a mother who like so many of us, doesn't want to see her children "clearly". I am about to finish it, but found it to be a definite page turner. I highly recommend it.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Blue Eyes
    5.0 out of 5 stars A home invasion were a man is murdered and a woman is brutally beaten and disfigured
    Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    The main suspected is the daughters boyfriend, who earlier had no even accused of theft. Convicted and jailed his conviction is now overturned and a new trial scheduled. The woman is asked to testify, and asked if she remembers anything from the night of the attack, as previously she could remember nothing.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Susan Holmes
    5.0 out of 5 stars If she did it
    Reviewed in Australia on June 23, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Excellent read
    Report
  • stephanie anne cooper
    5.0 out of 5 stars I could not stop reading this book. The relationship ...
    Reviewed in Canada on May 10, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I could not stop reading this book. The relationship between mother and daughter,sister and sister,and the entire parent dynamic was engrossing. As a mother, and sister, this book hit home in so many levels. Truly one of a few books I did not want to end. Will read more of her novels.
    Report
  • Catspelle
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 23, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed this book. Likeable characters, great story and kept me guessing until the end. I only wish I'd been on a beach somewhere reading it or with a glass of wine instead of dry January! This was a book I kept reading when I could I.e. In between cooking/walking dogs etc.....
    Report
  • ontheroad
    4.0 out of 5 stars Kindle book dictionary need improvements
    Reviewed in Canada on April 9, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I am very disappointed with Kindle's dictionary coming together with book. The idea to have a dictionary with the book is awesome, but without prounounciation of entries in the dictionary bothers me.

    Reading in English as a second language, I still come across new words. The dictionary helps me to expand vocabulary. However, in kindle's dictionary, it does not give the pronounciation of entries of the dictionary! Learning a language, the first thing is to know how to say the words. If I do not know the meaning of the word how can I say it. I do see the improvement of the dictionary. When you select a word by pressing it for a second, three Windows pops out at the same time:The definition of the word, the Wikipedia explainations, and a translation window that can put his first language as the target language. Interestingly there is a speaker button in the translation window, which you can press to get the prounoucciation of your target language. Why doesn't this function a spear at the place where it is mostly needed. I guess this feature helps those who speak English and yet learning another language but not those who learning English. Please go to a Kobo book, take a look at their dictionary. You can do better than it by put pronouciation into printed version and added sound to it.

    Ereading does help me a lot in learning an additional language. The convenience to bring up a installed dictionary is the main reson I shifted to non paper reading. Now I buy and read a book each month. Which ebook can give me the most effective reading experiences is becoming the top consideration to choose on the market. I spend such long time to put this feedback here with the hope that some change can be made soon.
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  • Catherine Willis
    4.0 out of 5 stars Hard to put down!
    Reviewed in Australia on May 8, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this read. It did and didn't go as you expected at the same time! I found the last couple of pages very sad.
    Report

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