Pg. 69: "Catching Genius"

This weekend's feature at the Page 69 Test: Kristy Kiernan's debut novel, Catching Genius.

About the novel, from the publisher:

As children, Connie and Estella were best friends - until Estella was discovered to be a math prodigy, which led to the sisters' estrangement. Now, years later, they are forced to reunite on the Gulf Coast of Florida as they pack up their childhood home and ready it for sale. The reunion comes at a time when both Connie and Estella must come to terms with painful revelations and devastating consequences in their own lives. And once again, her sister's genius may alter Connie's life in ways she cannot control.

Read an excerpt from Catching Genius.

Check out some of the advance praise for the novel. Among the book's endorsements:

"Catching Genius is the total package; a beautiful story beautifully told. Kristy Kiernan pulls you into a deep and fully-realized world; exactly the place a reader wants to be taken."
-Lorna Landvik, author of Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons and Oh, My Stars

"In her beautifully written debut novel, Catching Genius, Kristy Kiernan portrays the complexity of familial relationships with a depth, candor, and insight that can only be called exceptional."
-Sandra Kring, author of The Book of Bright Ideas and Carry Me Home

"Kristy Kiernan bursts from the gate with this skillful rendering of a family's reckoning with its painful past. She peels away the layers in a lilting and luminous voice, exposing strata after strata of family secrets made murkier by the passage of time, and proves she's a writer to watch -- find a comfortable spot, turn off the phone, and lose yourself in this gorgeous debut."
-Sara Gruen, NYT Bestselling author of Water For Elephants

"Kristy Kiernan’s fluent storytelling and fully-drawn, credible characters make for an affecting novel. With effortless grace, her lyrical prose drops the reader into scenes rich with detail and powerful emotions. Catching Genius is a stunning debut that will leave readers of Jodi Picoult and Anita Shreve clamoring for more from this talented author."
-Tasha Alexander, author of And Only to Deceive and A Poisoned Season

"Catching Genius is the real thing: a rich, compelling, and deeply nuanced story delivered in language that's as luminous as it is authoritative. To judge by this affecting first novel, I'd say Kiernan's the real thing, too."
-Jon Clinch, author of Finn

Curious about the inspiration for Catching Genius? Read Kiernan's backstory.

Visit Kristy Kiernan's website.

The Page 69 Test: Catching Genius.

--Marshal Zeringue