A Hidden Fate

“Sensitive and emotional, A Hidden Fate explores the life of a young married couple as they struggle with the threat of the wife developing a devastating illness. Efron’s characters are so well drawn that the reader will feel the intensity of their relationship as they travel the tenuous journey of heartache and self-discovery.”—Terry Persun, author of Cathedral of Dreams and Hear No Evil “These stakes are enormous: A powerful, complex novel about newlyweds making agonizing choices after a frightening revelation of the wife’s genetic inheritance. Efron sensitively probes the psyche of a woman struggling with herself, her husband, and others in her life over decision that will affect them all.”—Ed Levy, creator of the musicals Bystander, Trifles, and Lucy/Bluebeard “Newlyweds move to Baltimore to start graduate school, but anticipation is shattered by shocking medical news and a wife must balance maintaining hope with obtaining clarity about a possibly dark and cruel fate. With tender yet clear-eyed intelligence, Efron asks: Does one seek to learn the future when the knowledge may be devastating?”—Sandra Scofield, author of Little Ships and The Scene Book “For many women, the longing for motherhood collides with harsh biological realities. A Hidden Fate is an engrossing, suspenseful novel following one woman’s path as she confronts that collision—and the impossible choices she must make.”—Monica Starkman MD, author of The End of Miracles and Psychology Today columnist “Family secrets, the rights of parents, maternal love, and the importance of living one’s life to the fullest all come into play as Julia, the protagonist in Carol Efron’s intriguing novel, faces an excruciating and fateful decision.”—Jerry Burger, PhD, author of Shadows of 1915 “Psychiatrist Carol Efron brings her unique experiences and perspectives to bear in crafting a family drama about closely guarded secrets and life-altering decisions. The characters in this heartbreaking tale confront Freud’s dictum that ‘biology is destiny’ with fear, courage, and love as they grapple with the dilemmas that will one day face us all. A most compelling story.”—Jason Brandt, PhD, Professor Emeritus, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Carol Efron is a physician and writer. She earned her MD from Johns Hopkins and served on the faculty at Johns Hopkins and Stanford before building a thriving private practice in Silicon Valley. Her medical research—much of it on Huntington’s disease—has been published in leading journals. Witnessing the dilemmas posed by genetic testing inspired the questions at the heart of her debut novel. Efron has spent the past decade studying fiction craft, leading a writers’ critique group, and running a fifteen-year book club. She currently resides in Menlo Park, California.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.