A “character-driven mystery...that illuminates the long reach of trauma.”

— Booklist

“The Meaning of Fear is a gripping novel that traces the hairline fractures of trauma through a small community in Michigan, defying the neat divisions we try to enforce between past and present, victims and violators, and the terrors and graces of intimacy. What drives Paul and Lea and everyone else in this suspenseful novel is a shared hope—and dread—of release.”

—Bryan Furuness, author of Do Not Go On

“When forests become farms and farms become housing developments, wildness and violence, we’re reminded, remain. Thomas is a master of this landscape, and in her exploration of the place where fear drives her characters between the instinct for revenge and the longing for mercy and forgiveness. A great read.”

—Susan Neville, award-winning author of The Town of Whispering Dolls

“What a bold, wise writer! I am in love with Laura Thomas’ luminous, empathetic worldview. She is a connoisseur of interiority and nuance. I was utterly enthralled by The Meaning of Fear, a remarkable feat of characterization. The narrative delves into the lasting effects of trauma and abuse, masterfully detailing how perceptions based on personal experience and bias sometimes lead to misunderstandings and misjudgments. The story highlights the ripple effect of all our choices and offers the reader a powerful picture of what it means to be human: the messiness and beauty and the enduring capacity for hope.”

— Kelly Fordon, award-winning author of I Have the Answer 

The following readings are currently scheduled for the book's launch:

March 24: Serendipity Books, Chelsea MI

March 31: Literati Bookstore, Ann Arbor, MI

April 13: #YeahYouWrite Reading Series, New York, NY

April 20: Brain Candy Reading Series, Dearborn, MI

May 7: Next Chapter Books, Warren, MI,

May 14: Books & Mortar, Grand Rapids, MI