The Visionist / Rachel Urquhart / 345 pgs

Most of the critics liked this debut novel with the exception of Publishers Weekly.  It was definitely different in the writing and subject matter, but well worth the read.  The book takes place in mid-nineteenth century and is written through three voices.... Polly, the teenage girl who sets the family farmhouse on fire in an attempt to flee her sexually abusive father...Simon Pryor, the private investigator and fire expert...and Sister Charity, a prim and self-effacing member of the Shaker group who is given the task of watching over Polly after her mother leaves her and her brother at the City of Hope (name of the Shaker enclave).   Polly is confused about the reasoning behind her mother leaving her and her brother with the Shakers.  She isn't convinced that her father was killed in the fire and fears that he may show up.  A friendship develops between Sister Charity and Polly, but Polly still doesn't feel free to tell Charity the secrets that haunt her.  In a "meeting" she has a "vision" and causes the group to christen her a "Visionist."  All believe except Elder Sister who is convinced Polly isn't what she seems to be and is intent on finding out the truth and getting the "Visionist" to confess.  Enter Simon Pryor who is investigating the fire and battling his own demons.  He soon figures out what happened, determines that the lives of mother and daughter are in danger and sets out to right wrongs of the past.  Greed, guilt, friendship and fanatical piety combined with well-placed plot twists make this a recommended read.