Friday Freebie: The Orphan Choir by Sophie Hannah

Congratulations to Chris Oleson, winner of last week's Friday Freebie: The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker and Three Souls by Janie Chang.

This week's book giveaway is The Orphan Choir by Sophie Hannah.  Here's a plot synopsis from the publisher: Louise Beeston is being haunted.  Louise has no reason left to stay in the city.  She can’t see her son, Joseph, who is away at boarding school, where he performs in a prestigious boys’ choir.  Her troublesome neighbor has begun blasting choral music at all hours of the night—and to make matters worse, she’s the only one who can hear it.  Hoping to find some peace, Louise convinces her husband, Stuart, to buy them a country house in an idyllic, sun-dappled gated community called Swallowfield.  But it seems that the haunting melodies of the choir have followed her there.  Could it be that her city neighbor has trailed her to Swallowfield, just to play an elaborate, malicious prank?  Is there really a ghostly chorus playing outside her door?  And why won’t they stop?  Growing desperate, she begins to worry about her mental health.  Against the pleas and growing disquiet of her husband, Louise starts to suspect that this sinister choir is not only real but a warning.  But of what?  And how can it be, when no one else can hear it?  In The Orphan Choir, Sophie Hannah brings us along on a darkly suspenseful investigation of obsession, loss, and the malevolent forces that threaten to break apart a loving family. The News & Observer had this to say about the novel: “You have to hand it to a writer who can make a children's choir spooky...Hannah builds uneasiness with so many odd touches: an out-of-place gesture, an exasperated husband, increasingly aberrant behavior by the main character.”

If you’d like a chance at winning a copy of The Orphan Choir, simply email your name and mailing address to

thequiveringpen@gmail.com

Put FRIDAY FREEBIE in the e-mail subject line.  One entry per person, please.  Despite its name, the Friday Freebie runs all week long and remains open to entries until midnight on March 6, at which time I’ll draw the winning name.  I’ll announce the lucky reader on March 7.  If you’d like to join the mailing list for the once-a-week newsletter, simply add the words “Sign me up for the newsletter” in the body of your email.  Your email address and other personal information will never be sold or given to a third party (except in those instances where the publisher requires a mailing address for sending Friday Freebie winners copies of the book).

Want to double your odds of winning?  Get an extra entry in the contest by posting a link to this webpage on your blog, your Facebook wall or by tweeting it on Twitter.  Once you’ve done any of those things, send me an additional e-mail saying “I’ve shared” and I’ll put your name in the hat twice.