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The Distant Dead: A Novel Kindle Edition

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 795 ratings

Nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel * Nominated for the ITW Thriller Award for Best Young Adult Novel

A BookPage Best Book of the Year * A People Magazine Best Book of Summer * A Parade Best Book of Summer * A Crime Reads Most Anticipated Book of Summer

"Powerful...a breathtaking read, with flawed and authentic characters who hit so close to home that at times it is impossible not to root for them." — San Francisco Chronicle

A body burns in the high desert hills. A boy walks into a fire station, pale with the shock of discovery. A middle school teacher worries when her colleague is late for work. By day’s end, when the body is identified as local math teacher Adam Merkel, a small Nevada town will be rocked to its core.

Adam Merkel left a university professorship in Reno to teach middle school in Lovelock seven months before he died. A quiet, seemingly unremarkable man, he connected with just one of his students: Sal Prentiss, a lonely sixth grader who lives with his uncles on a desolate ranch in the hills. The two outcasts developed a tender, trusting friendship that brought each of them hope in the wake of tragedy. But it is Sal who finds Adam’s body, charred almost beyond recognition, half a mile from his uncles’ compound.

Nora Wheaton, the middle school’s social studies teacher, dreamed of a life far from Lovelock only to be dragged back on the eve of her college graduation to care for her disabled father, a man she loves but can’t forgive. She sensed in the new math teacher a kindred spirit--another soul bound to Lovelock by guilt and duty. After Adam’s death, she delves into his past for clues to who killed him and finds a dark history she understands all too well. But the truth about his murder may lie closer to home. For Sal Prentiss’s grief seems heavily shaded with fear, and Nora suspects he knows more than he’s telling about how his favorite teacher died. As she tries to earn the wary boy’s trust, she finds he holds not only the key to Adam’s murder, but an unexpected chance at the life she thought she’d lost.

Weaving together the last months of Adam’s life, Nora’s search for answers, and a young boy’s anguished moral reckoning, this unforgettable thriller brings a small American town to vivid life, filled with complex, flawed characters wrestling with the weight of the past, the promise of the future, and the bitter freedom that forgiveness can bring.


From the Publisher

Distant Dead, People

Distant Dead, Bearskin

Distant Dead, Booklist

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Powerful and poignant." — People

"Powerful...a breathtaking read, with flawed and authentic characters who hit so close to home that at times it is impossible not to root for them." — San Francisco Chronicle

"With her usual blend of inventive storytelling and gorgeous prose, Heather Young delivers big themes and a poignant coming-of-age story in this complex, page-turning mystery/thriller. Resonant and relevant, The Distant Dead kept me reading late at night, and the characters followed me around during the day, especially a precocious and unusual sixth-grade boy named Absalom who is hard to forget. As a fan of Young’s debut, The Lost Girls, I found myself swept into another beautifully-crafted story that’s even more suspenseful, at times more terrifying, and ultimately just as surprising. The Distant Dead is not to be missed." — James McLaughlin, author of Bearskin

"A story that begins with a horrific discovery and expands to explore the weight of familial obligation, the far-reaching devastation of drug addiction and the ways in which guilt and boredom can curdle into something much more sinister...[Young's] language is poetic, and her contemplation of the corrosiveness of suppressed emotion is both sympathetic and impatient: When will people learn?" — BookPage (starred review)

"Bright, flawless writing, wonderful characters, and a sense of pacing that ratchets up the tension—what more could you want from a thriller? I loved this book. I bet you will too." — Rene Denfeld, bestselling author of The Child Finder and The Butterfly Girl

“Stunning … An ideal recommendation for fans of Kate Atkinson.” — Booklist (starred review)

"[THE DISTANT DEAD] is at heart about the timelessness of human curiosity, the eternal possibility of forgiveness, and the everyday miracle of survival. Electrifying, ambitious, and crushingly beautiful." Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Engrossing...an enjoyable character-driven murder mystery that is emotionally poignant and empathetic." — Mystery Scene

"This emotionally resonant saga, firmly rooted in the high desert hills, will keep readers turning the pages." — Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Charlie Thurston is an actor and Earphones Award-winning narrator. He holds an MFA in acting from Brown University / Trinity Rep and has appeared on stages across the country with Trinity Repertory Company, Chautauqua Theater Company, Creede Rep, and at Riverside Theatre and Redmoon Theater, among others. His favorite roles include Edgar in The Completely Fictional--Utterly True--Final Strange Tale of Edgar Allan Poe, Stephen in The Long Christmas Ride Home, Tuzenbach in The Three Sisters, and Tony in You Can't Take It with You.



Eva Kaminsky is a New York-based actor and audiobook narrator with over 150 titles to her credit. She trained at Boston University and has acted in numerous productions on television and film, including Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Happyish, Ugly Betty, ER, Numbers, Law & Order, and others.



Jim Meskimen is a stage, film, and television actor who has appeared in many well-known movies and television shows. He acted in Apollo 13 and Frost/Nixon for director Ron Howard, both of which were nominated for Best Picture Oscars. His television appearances include The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Friends, Lie to Me, Criminal Minds, and Parks and Recreation. He is also a painter, award-winning audiobook narrator, and audiobook director for Galaxy Audio.



Heather Young grew up in Maryland, but as an adult she found her people in San Francisco, where she's lived since 1991. She's also strongly rooted in the Midwest: her parents grew up in small Iowa towns and met at the University of Iowa. Though they raised their children in the Washington, DC, area, they did so with strong Midwestern values and brought them to Minnesota every summer. It's this emotional connection that Heather drew upon to create the characters, events, and settings in The Lost Girls. Heather received an MFA from the Bennington Writing Seminars in 2011.



Cassandra Campbell is an actress, director, and teacher who has performed in New York at the Public Theater, the Mint Theater, and the Clurman Theatre. She is an accomplished voice-over artist whose credits include numerous audiobooks, documentaries, and commercials in both Italian and English.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07CL2QFF6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Custom House (June 9, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 9, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 795 ratings

About the author

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Heather Young
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Heather is the author of two novels. Her debut, The Lost Girls, won the Strand Award for Best First Novel and was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best First Novel. Her second novel, The Distant Dead, was nominated for an Edgar Award for Best Novel and named one of the ten best mystery/suspense books of 2020 by Booklist. A former antitrust and intellectual property litigator, she traded the legal world for the literary one and earned her MFA from the Bennington Writing Seminars in 2011. She lives in Mill Valley, California, where she writes, bikes, hikes, and reads books by other people that she wishes she’d written.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
795 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story compelling and full of surprises. They are drawn in by the characters, depicted as real people who are complex and flawed. The writing quality is praised as excellent. The book transcends genre and is described as a brilliant adult novel. However, opinions differ on the heartbreaking aspect - some find it deeply moving while others feel depressed by the end.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

32 customers mention "Story quality"27 positive5 negative

Customers find the story engaging with a promising premise. They appreciate the gripping plot with unexpected twists and surprises. The story explores addiction, love, and family in a visceral way. Readers find the book an interesting escape with a well-crafted murder mystery that progresses through translucent flashbacks.

"...I however was only half right in my sleuth work! Good Book, good characters, and surprise ending. Worth the read!" Read more

"...His imagination can encompass a world in which the good in everyone is endlessly doing battle with evil—and sometimes even winning...." Read more

"A well-crafted murder mystery that progresses by translucent flashbacks that only very gradually give some clue to murderer and motive...." Read more

"The story encompasses addiction, love and family in a visceral way. Moving and deeply charged with feeling. True human nature...." Read more

17 customers mention "Character development"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters likable and well-developed. They describe them as complex, flawed, and isolated by regret. The author portrays their true human nature through slow development and chapter switching. Readers appreciate the compassionate eyes through which they see each character.

"...The strongest feature of the book is its characters. The characters followed me around during the day and kept me reading each night...." Read more

"...I however was only half right in my sleuth work! Good Book, good characters, and surprise ending. Worth the read!" Read more

"...realistic, but he still works within the novel as a superbly drawn character, providing the compassionate eyes through which we see each damaged..." Read more

"Started strong. I liked the characters and the setting...." Read more

9 customers mention "Writing quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality. They find the story compelling and the character development excellent.

"...The author’s writing is so beautiful I found myself re-reading sections just to enjoy the imagery...." Read more

"This book was well written. The characters were well developed and I really cared about what happened to them throughout the story...." Read more

"...the poetic opening vignette and sustained it throughout by its gorgeous prose and its intricately plotted story...." Read more

"If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. The writing is so beautiful but the plot is a page-turner and it’s hard to just read and savor the..." Read more

3 customers mention "Genre"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's genre. They say it transcends genre and is a brilliant example of an adult novel.

"...But this book transcends genre...." Read more

"...book, "The Lost Girls," "The Distant Dead" is another brilliant example of an adult novel whose central protagonist is a child...." Read more

"...There is a mystery in the plot, but this book transcends genre...." Read more

6 customers mention "Heartbreaking story"2 positive4 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the story. Some find it heartbreaking and uplifting, with a hint of hope. Others feel depressed by the end.

"...Heartbreaking but with a tinge of hope. Hints at the depths of sadness and tragedy we all carry in some form. Surprisingly captivating." Read more

"...It was also a very sad story, so be prepared for that." Read more

"...characters jumped off the page with their humanity, and I felt their tragedies so deeply...." Read more

"...The book's excellent and suspenseful pacing led to a devastating and unexpected conclusion, but Ms. Young left me with hope for these characters I..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2021
    A body burns in the high desert hills of Nevada. A boy walks into a fire station, pale with the shock of discovery. A middle school teacher worries when her colleague is late for work. By the day’s end, when the body is identified as local math teacher Adam Merkel, a small Nevada town will be rocked to its core.

    I’d describe The Distant Dead by Heather Young as a literary mystery. But this book transcends genre. The story begins with a horrific discovery, but expands to explore the weight of family obligations and how drug addiction and tragic decisions can rip those families apart.

    The strongest feature of the book is its characters. The characters followed me around during the day and kept me reading each night. Precocious Absalom “Sal” Prentiss, who lost his mother to heroin and now lives with his two uncles on a desolate ranch in the hills. Adam Merkel, who left a university professorship to teach middle school math in the middle of nowhere, and who take a special interest in Sal. Nora Wheaton, the middle school’s social studies teacher, who dreamed of a life far away, only to be pulled back on the eve of her college graduation to care for her disabled father, a man she loves but can’t forgive.

    The author’s writing is so beautiful I found myself re-reading sections just to enjoy the imagery. But I also loved the canny way Young set me up, leading me down one path and giving me room to start feel one way about a character, only to jerk around a corner at the end of a chapter and completely upend my expectations. Like the mysterious bones in that cave in the prologue, you won’t want to put the book down until you know the truth.

    These may not be characters you immediately look up to, or even that you’d like to be related to. But you will believe in them. They are depicted as real people—complex and flawed, often isolated by regret for their choices. Sometimes broken, other times resilient. They are all faced with choices from which their decisions will resonate outward into their interwoven stories. You will care, deeply.

    No car chases. No superhuman skills, not even a clearly evil villain. Just great story telling that you won’t soon forget.

    Whether you love character-driven fiction, a twisty murder mystery, or plot-driven genre fiction, read The Distant Dead. It’s a book I’ll be recommending for a long time.

    And next March 14, I will be baking pies.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2022
    So first of all, I must confess that I am from the town of Lovelock NV and have lived here my whole life. I am a native here, by actually being born in this little town. Therefore, I have seen this town through somewhat filtered eyes, and have witnessed numerous changes in 64 years. It is hard to see this place from a “visitors” perspective and with that being said, I still must agree with a lot of the author’s evaluations on Lovelock, but I also question her views based on just who the people were that she based her research on. Albeit she did make numerous trips here, and talked to a cross sampling of residents, I am still questioning the cross section of interviewees. Did she talk to Hospital staff, school employees, homemakers, miners, Paiutes etc? Or just the bar clientele, coffee shop and restaurant customers? Nonetheless, this book is a good read, and is fun to read for those of us fortunate enough to live here. Yes, some of us feel fortunate to be able to live here. We are capable of leaving if we so choose to. Like the author said, we can always leave. Some of us find living away from the rat race of big city life very comforting and peaceful. I have always maintained that Lovelock is a great place to raise a family and I stand by that still today, however, I was mesmerized by reading about a place I know so intimately and had a hard time convincing myself to read it as a work of fiction. The story is a good one, with characters I could almost name from living here so long (and yes, it’s fictitious). I am wondering why there was a fictional town of Marzen though, when there are a couple of small Pershing Co. towns that would have worked as well, or calling the town Rochester since it takes place around there. Hmmm???? I was drawn into the plot and was trying to figure out who committed the heinous act against the teacher. The mystery was well worth the wait while developing the characters in a way the reader could try and understand. Lovelock isn’t for everyone, and it’s really gone down hill from it’s Boom days, but there are still so many good and decent people living here that I hope the people reading about Lovelock don’t forget to remember, this is a fictional story. I think the reader’s will enjoy getting to know the characters in this book just as I did, and they can figure it out before the end. I however was only half right in my sleuth work! Good Book, good characters, and surprise ending. Worth the read!
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Rafael Heitor Nunes Costa
    5.0 out of 5 stars Some distant deads remain with us...
    Reviewed in Brazil on January 30, 2022
    A character-driven, gripping and highly well-written plot that will seem slow-paced, but actually entraps you in a dramatic and complex atmosphere. Different people, ages and backgrounds: everyone here show a profound search for "meaning", no matter their grief and pain. A book full of unforgettable, next-door characters, whose lives are worthy to be known.
  • DeeWal
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2022
    I have read both of Heather Young's books (The Lost Girls and The Distant Dead) and enjoyed them immensely. She has a beguiling style which draws you in and means you really want to know what is going to happen, even when there is not much going on in the storyline. The characters are credible and the plots plausible which is not always a given nowadays ! I look forward to reading whatever else she writes.
  • veronique arnault
    4.0 out of 5 stars The distant dead by Heather Young
    Reviewed in France on December 4, 2021
    Extremely well written. Very interesting characters, sensitive analysis of feelings and actions. Not judgemental. Full of suspense. Various stories interlinking. Detective story a pretext.
  • Jane Shuff
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very special
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 31, 2021
    There’s something very special about this evocative story of the murder of an unimpressive maths teacher in a small town in America. It may be a slow burn at the start but the time taken means the recently bereaved young boy, Sal, and Nora, one of his teachers who suspects he knows more about the murder than he has let on, come to life with haunting vividness. It’s also a great story played out against an intriguing backdrop. It’s one that will stay with me and I have no higher praise than that.

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