The multilayered mystery of Julie Doar’s debut novel, “The Gallagher Place,” is coming to the East Meadow Public Library.
The book was recently the subject of the library’s Mystery/Thriller Book Club’s investigative eye, receiving such a positive reception that Doar will appear at a Meet and Greet Book Signing at the library on Jan. 27 at 7:45 p.m.
A middle school English teacher in Brooklyn, Doar described the novel’s success as a dream come true.
“I have really been enjoying — especially now that the book’s been out for a few weeks — connecting with people who have now read it completely, and want to discuss the characters and the twists and turns, so it’s been really fun,” she said.
The novel, published by Zibby Media in California, is a mystery following a New York City illustrator returning to her Hudson Valley home after years of absence and rediscovering and untangling the case of a childhood friend’s disappearance. Doar grew up in the area, and, she said, “I always thought it would be a great setting for a murder mystery. I think the old abandoned barns and the forests and the fields just create a sort of mysterious vibe.
“It’s been really exciting to go through this publication process,” she added, “and finally get something out in the world that was in my head for so long.”
Janine Walsh, who heads the library’s reader services department, is constantly looking for ways to draw reader to the facility. “We have a number of different book groups that are available to patrons of our library and the whole of Nassau County,” she said. They include a general-interest group, another in which the focus is on bestsellers, and the mysteries-and-thrillers club, whose members are encouraged to enhance their reading adventures with activities like visits to escape rooms and author appearances.
Librarian II Christina Crocker worked with Zibby Media to arrange Doar’s visit.
“How the book got on my radar was that each year there’s a national library conference — it’s called the American Library Association Conference, usually held at the end of June,” Crocker said. “I attended last June. It was in Philadelphia, and Janine and I had been invited to a publisher party.”
At the party, Walsh and Crocker explained the structure of the library’s book clubs to members of Zibby Media, which quickly led to them being handed an advance copy of “The Gallagher Place.” The publishers described the novel as a fresh and distinct experience that makes it stand out against its peers in the genre.
“I read it, and I absolutely agree, and they were 100 percent correct,” Crocker said. “I emailed the (Zibby) representative back and I said, Yes, I really enjoyed it, it was very different. I loved the whole environmental aspect of it, and the ending really got you thinking. I said we would definitely consider using it for the Mystery/Thriller Book Club.
“Anyone who is interested in not just mysteries or thrillers, but books in general, I think they will really find attending this event worthwhile,” Crocker added of Doar’s visit next week, “because I think the author really has some interesting things to say.”
To make a reservation for the event, visit EastMeadow.info.
Doar’s book is available at ZibbyMedia.com.
