My Name Was Eden

A Novel

by Eleanor Barker-White

On Sale: 02/27/2024

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My Name Was Eden

A Novel

by Eleanor Barker-White

On Sale: 02/27/2024

Format:

Amazon Indigo

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About the Book

In this edge-of-your-seat psychological debut, a mother’s experience with Vanishing Twin Syndrome triggers disturbing changes in her teenage daughter, perfect for fans of The Push and The Undoing.

One twin vanished. The other twin remained. Until now...

When her daughter Eden came home from the hospital, Lucy was profoundly relieved. Eden had survived a drowning incident and had no apparent brain damage, no serious injuries, not even a scratch on her. Lucy fervently welcomed having a second chance at being the good mother she should have been before her teenager’s accident.

Until Eden tells her that Eden isn’t her name. Until she starts calling herself Eli. The name Lucy had reserved for Eden’s unborn twin.

Don’t worry, says the doctor. Eden is completely fine, says her husband. Of course I’m fine, Eden says, with that strange new smile of hers. I didn’t die. I’m here.

But Lucy knows something’s very wrong with Eden. She’s not her maddening, complicated teenage girl anymore—this straight-backed, even tempered, steady-eyed child in her house is someone else entirely. Eden, it seems, is the twin who disappeared…

Critical Praise

"In this captivating and highly original novel of psychological suspense, Eleanor Barker-White takes the reader on a journey into the heart of maternal grief and intergenerational trauma. My Name Was Eden is a fantastic debut—unpredictable, tense, and absorbing." — Rose Carlyle, #1 international bestselling author of The Girl in the Mirror

“This strong debut successfully explores intergenerational trauma in a twisty thriller with enough notes of horror to require reading with all the lights on. For fans of Zoje Stage and Lucinda Berry.” — Library Journal

“Gorgeously written and brimming with spine-tingling tension, My Name Was Eden hooked me from the first page. This is not just a first-rate thriller but also a fascinating dive into questions of identity, perception, and who we choose to hold dear, be they living or dead. Barker-White is a major new voice in psychological thrillers.” — Mindy Mejia, bestselling author of Everything You Want Me to Be and To Catch a Storm

“Shifting fluidly between family drama and thriller, My Name Was Eden is a haunting exploration of motherhood at its most tested. Tragic and unnerving in equal measure, Barker-White’s debut had me gripped from its heart-breaking opening chapter through to its shocking end. Brilliant!” — Amy Beashel, author of Spilt Milk

“Spellbinding, captivating, and entirely unique. I flew through this book, second guessing my every suspicion along the way. A brilliant story of psychological suspense, motherhood, and friendship.” — Nora Murphy, author of The Favor and The New Mother

“Eleanor’s characters had me at the edge of my seat. I became submerged in the murky world so beautifully depicted. A story of memories, longing and of heartbreak. Stunning debut.” — Kelechi Okafor, author of Edge of Here

“I really, really enjoyed this book. It's dark and creepy but still manages to stay realistic and within the confines of domestic noir. Nightmarish, but in the most compelling way. A proper page turner.” — Katy Brent, bestselling author of How to Kill Men and Get Away with It

“Complex, dark, utterly gripping. Barker-White compellingly peels back the layers of family life revealing the diseased heart at its core. Had me reading far too late into the night.” — Tammy Cohen, author of The Wedding Party