The Change: A Novel [B2326]

2022 HCDJ in Gift-Worthy condition. Big Little Lies meets The Witches of Eastwick-a gloriously entertaining and knife-sharp revenge fantasy about three women whose midlife crisis brings unexpected new powers-putting them on a collision course with the evil that lurks in their wealthy beach town. After Nessa James's husband dies and her twin daughters leave for college, she's left all alone in a trim white house not far from the ocean. In the quiet of her late forties, the former nurse begins to hear voices. It doesn't take long for Nessa to realize that the voices calling out to her belong to the dead-a gift she's inherited from her grandmother, which comes with special responsibilities.

On the cusp of 50, suave advertising director Harriett Osborne has just witnessed the implosion of her lucrative career and her marriage. She hasn't left her house in months, and from the outside, it appears as if she and her garden have both gone to seed. But Harriett's life is far from over-in fact, she's undergone a stunning and very welcome metamorphosis.

Ambitious former executive Jo Levison has spent thirty long years at war with her body. The free-floating rage and hot flashes that arrive with the beginning of menopause feel like the very last straw-until she realizes she has the ability to channel them, and finally comes into her power.

Guided by voices only Nessa can hear, the trio of women discover a teenage girl whose body was abandoned beside a remote beach. The police have written the victim off as a drug-addicted sex worker, but the women refuse to buy into the official narrative. Their investigation into the girl's murder leads to more bodies, and to the town's most exclusive and isolated enclave, a world of stupendous wealth where the rules don't apply. With their newfound powers, Jo, Nessa, and Harriett will take matters into their own hands...

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "A commentary on Rich White Men, how society undervalues women in general but especially from lower classes, owning your narrative, female friendship, and protecting other women. The whole book was compelling, gruesome at times, and did not soften any blows. The ending especially was so impactful and unfortunately not unfamiliar from current events. Highly recommend - and Yay for older female main characters!!"; "So many things in this book that suit me - great female friendship, an interesting mystery, and scumbags getting their due in dramatic fashion. The tension and pacing were good. It had fantastic female empowerment and great witchy aspects.";

"Holy crap was this a fantastic book. These women are amazing and hilarious the entire book; the twist at the end left me shocked and had me pumping my fist in the air. Is it wrong for me to wish that when I reach menopause that I get magical witch powers and exact vengeance on every man who has wronged me or done terrible things to society? No, I don't think it is. I definitely recommend this book to anymore who wants to see some badass women taking sh*t down!"