The Storm — Frederick Buechner

From “one of our greatest novelists,” a story based on Shakespeare's The Tempest of family reunited after being torn apart by passion “is a quiet marvel” (Philadelphia Inquirer).

On wealthy Plantation Island in South Florida, an old man waits. Kenzie Maxwell is a writer, a raconteur, a rascal, an altruist, a mystic -- a charismatic figure who enjoys life with his rich third wife but muses daily on the sins of his past.

Two decades ago, Kenzie had to leave New York because of a scandal. He'd been a volunteer at a runaway shelter, and he'd fallen in love with a seventeen-year-old girl -- a girl who died while giving birth to Kenzie's daughter. His older brother, Dalton, a lawyer and board member at the shelter, decided to quell the rumors by releasing Kenzie's note of apology to the press. Kenzie's reputation -- and the girl's -- were destroyed. He has never forgiven his brother.

Now it's the eve of Kenzie's seventieth birthday, and a storm is brewing. His beloved daughter, Bree -- the child of the scandal -- is coming down from New York for his birthday party. But his brother Dalton is coming too, to do some legal work for the island's ill-tempered matriarch. Now Kenzie must somehow contrive to reconcile with his brother -- and make peace with his past.

Infused with humanity, and informed by faith, The Storm is Frederick Buechner's most captivating novel since Godric -- a richly satisfying contemporary story of fragmented families and love's many mysteries that will move you, make you laugh, and fill you with wonder.

“A fluent storyteller with a fine eye for character and a rich prose style that easily handles poetic tropes.” -- Publishers Weekly