A “deliciously dark and dangerous” novel of love and tragedy in post-WWII Virginia by the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of A Reliable Wife (O, The Oprah Magazine).
It is the summer of 1948 when a handsome, charismatic stranger, Charlie Beale, recently back from the war in Europe, shows up in the town of Brownsburg, a sleepy village nestled in the Valley of Virginia. All he has with him are two suitcases: one contains his few possessions, including a fine set of butcher knives; the other is full of money. A lot of money. He’s searching for a home. What he finds is love. And what happens then will haunt Brownsburg for generations.
Heading Out to Wonderful is a “tale of doomed love [that] resonates like a folk ballad, with the language of the Blue Ridge Mountains and its people giving this novel its soul . . . Like any good ballad, the narrative builds slowly to its violent climax, packs an emotional punch, and then haunts readers with its quintessentially American refrain” (Publishers Weekly).
