Absence

ABSENCE is a mystery, in the deepest sense of the word, about marriage, about fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, and brothers and sisters; all backed into corners and at odds with each other as they struggle with their human nature, and their dependence upon the Nature of Earth.

James Green, a seasoned peanut farmer on land he has owned for three generation, deals with two distinct natures: the Nature of Earth, and his own nature as a man. Coping with either one necessitates choices, some not always virtuous. When a flood, and then a drought, threaten to destroy his farm, James revisits a less than virtuous choice he made in the 1970’s when his beloved wife, Katy, produces a still-born daughter. ABSENCE hinges on the decision James makes to keep Katy from grief, and its treacherous repercussions.

"Those who have read Kaye Park Hinckley's earlier novels will know that she is one of the most exciting and gifted writers of contemporary faith-inspired fiction. This latest offering does not disappoint. Absence will further establish Mrs. Hinckley's hard-earned reputation as a teller of gritty and gripping stories infused with subtle hints of the redemptive power of grace."
-- Joseph Pearce, the author of numerous literary works including Tolkien: Man and Myth

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"Hinckley does it again. Absence put me in mind of Faulkner as a generation-transcending saga set in the South. But unlike Faulkner, Hinckley does not leave the reader feeling burdened by the tragic consequences of the sins of the fathers visited upon their children. Instead, Hinckley enlightens, revealing the indissolubility of love and truth, and restoring love and life. A terrific read. "
-- Dena Hunt, author of award-winning novels, Treason and The Lion’s Heart

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" “Absence” is the sixth book by Kaye Park Hinckley that I have read and loved. “Absence” and the “Wind that Shakes the Corn” are my all-time favorites. While reading “Absence,” I forced myself to go slowly to savor her sentences like an excellent meal that I didn’t want to end. The author “paints” compelling personifications of good and evil as three generations of characters battle internal demons and nature. The plot in “Absence” is intricate, layered, and surprising up until the last page. Themes of longing, abandonment, forgiveness, callousness, regret, unconditional love, and mercy will stay with the reader long after finishing the book. I can’t recommend this book highly enough—a masterpiece!"
-- Meggie Daly, author of Bead by Bead