Laura's Legacy

The hallmark of novels by Ann Sawyer is the depth of insight and understanding that she brings to her characters and plots. With compassion and empathy, she weaves the many complex strands that truly reflect our lives, bringing the reader into a deeper, meaningful experience. Ann Sawyer’s background as a long term psychotherapist contributes greatly to the richness and beauty of her stories.
Laura had always served as a buffer between her mother and younger sister, but more she always made them feel better about themselves and their lives. Now Laura is dead, leaving Dorothy Tanner, a sixty-two year old widow locked in a life of joyless rigidity and thirty-four year old Jean stuck, out of touch with herself and looking for love in all the wrong places. Bereft without Laura, Dorothy and Jean, overcome by guilt and grief, are left to give comfort to each other.
New revelations surface about Laura’s life, pushing Dorothy on a quest to understand both her beloved daughter’s life and death. Police Detective Cole, twice divorced, hardened, and bitter, pushes her to confront unhappy truths and oddly offers her comfort as well. In the end, Dorothy discovers a Laura she never knew, turning her world upside down. Jean chronicles her life’s transformation through therapy, going from a disastrous engagement to an unsuitable man, to a surprise pregnancy and finally to taking a chance on love. Through the tumult of their changing selves and lives, Dorothy and Jean forge a new bond.
The story deftly examines the characters of the three Tanner women and navigates the complicated relationships that bind families together, and yet, still includes the ever fascinating chemistry of romance. It’s funny, it’s sad, it’s charming, it’s suspenseful—altogether a good read.