To the Left of Death
She didn’t bring the gun. She didn’t pull the trigger. But she tried to stop the blood, and she held him as he died.
When an elementary school teacher witnesses murder, she’s left with painful memories and an inability to make peace with her experience. She now goes through the motions of daily life, sitting up night after night with her never-ending thoughts and everlasting bourbon. A return to her teenage love of drawing begins to revive her, but will her art be a salvation or a path back into the swirling mystery of that fateful day?
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Available in paperback and ebook editions, 292 pages.
Genre
Written in the first person, this contemporary novel uses a stream-of-consciousness approach to navigate the lingering effects of trauma. While this story explores dark, psychological themes, it also embraces the hope of healing. Note: To the Left of Death includes adult language and themes.
Reviews
“To the Left of Death by Susan Quilty is a caring story about how we must not mistake re-creating the past for creating a present.” – Samantha Hui for Independent Book Review (Full review here)
“Due to the evocative prose and masterful use of the first-person point of view, the story is an emotional voyage into the human mind.” – Keyla Damaer for Readers’ Favorite (Full review here)
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Extras
Want to explore more? Read the opening pages for free and go behind the book with continuing blog posts. Note that character descriptions and discussion questions may include mild spoilers.
Day One – Not many people expect their day to include murder. Homicide detectives. Medical examiners. Judges or criminal lawyers. I guess hitmen and serial killers, too. But not most people. Not the ones who shy away from death. Not even those of us who already know its shadow. (Continue reading…)
Early Edition
In 2018, To the Left of Death was published exclusively through Amazon. In 2022, a second edition was released for wider distribution. The new edition includes an updated cover and interior layout. Both covers were designed by Susan Quilty.
Check back for bonus content and updates in To the Left of Death blog posts.
