Books like The Cloud of Unknowing by Thomas H. Cook

David Sears has grown up in the shadow of his brilliant younger sister, Diana, who is portrayed as more than a sibling. Their father has always believed that she will accomplish great things, but the reality of her life diverges: she marries a geneticist, Mark, and they have a son, Jason. Like their father, Jason suffers from schizophrenia, a fact that imposes tension between father, daughter, and son. After Jason drowns and the authorities rule his death accidental, Diana refuses to accept their explanation. She becomes convinced that ancient murders, the mythic earth as Gaia, and the evidence she is gathering will vindicate her claim that her husband, Mark, is responsible. The novel follows David’s experience as he receives frantic communication from Diana—emails, faxes, and frantic appeals—and begins to question what he knows about his own family. Hallmarks of the narrative include the strain of blood ties, the weight of family mythology, and the seduction of illness and suspicion that threaten the protagonist’s safety.

First publish date: 2007