A sharply funny and moving debut in which a young woman accepts a job that takes her though the Italian Dolomites and into an international mystery far greater—and more personal—than she could have ever expected.
For someone who hates secrets, Las Vegas hairdresser Lucy Rey is about to be faced with a whole bunch of them. After discovering that her fiancé has been cheating on her with someone from his improv class, she finds herself short on funds and desperate for a change of scenery. Enter a most unusual job opportunity: a Bearer of Bad News.
Sure, it’s a little weird—the job description has few details, and the bad news is more like a vaguely worded threat—but Lucy can’t say no to the perks: an all-expenses-paid trip to the Italian Dolomites, plus a generous bonus if she proves she’s delivered the message. Then she learns that her task is just the tip of the iceberg.
Launched into a world of betrayal and greed involving eighty-year-old secrets, stolen jewels, and a World War II–era mystery, Lucy is in over her head. And she’s connected to her mission in ways she never saw coming.
For fans of Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Kirstin Chen’s Counterfeit, Bearer of Bad News is an exhilarating romp that deftly explores the weight of secrets, the power of friendship, and how, by healing the wounds of the past, we can build a brighter tomorrow.
Genre: General Fiction
For someone who hates secrets, Las Vegas hairdresser Lucy Rey is about to be faced with a whole bunch of them. After discovering that her fiancé has been cheating on her with someone from his improv class, she finds herself short on funds and desperate for a change of scenery. Enter a most unusual job opportunity: a Bearer of Bad News.
Sure, it’s a little weird—the job description has few details, and the bad news is more like a vaguely worded threat—but Lucy can’t say no to the perks: an all-expenses-paid trip to the Italian Dolomites, plus a generous bonus if she proves she’s delivered the message. Then she learns that her task is just the tip of the iceberg.
Launched into a world of betrayal and greed involving eighty-year-old secrets, stolen jewels, and a World War II–era mystery, Lucy is in over her head. And she’s connected to her mission in ways she never saw coming.
For fans of Gail Honeyman’s Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Kirstin Chen’s Counterfeit, Bearer of Bad News is an exhilarating romp that deftly explores the weight of secrets, the power of friendship, and how, by healing the wounds of the past, we can build a brighter tomorrow.
Genre: General Fiction
Praise for this book
"At first funny and endearing, later affecting and poignant, Bearer of Bad News travels even farther than its wayward protagonist in search of home, answers, and loves lost and found. Elisabeth Dini's characters go beyond expectations, her families beyond blood, her history beyond its confines in a bright and moving novel that is more than meets the eye." - Laurie Frankel
"One of the most delightful debuts I've ever read, Bearer of Bad News is a laugh-out-loud Bridget Jones-esque tale about a woman searching for a missing necklace in an Italian mountain town while her own life implodes spectacularly. Author Elisabeth Dini - a real-life lawyer and former prosecutor of war crimes and crimes against humanity - also weaves in a heartrending World War II storyline connected to the necklace, which gives this delightful, fast-paced book hidden depth and a surprising amount of emotion. Imagine everything you love about Bridget Jones's Diary, The Maid, and Where'd You Go, Bernadette, interwoven with a tale that honors those who fled Hitler's Germany and lost everything, and you'll have this pitch-perfect novel. Charming, hilarious, and heartfelt, Bearer of Bad News is sure to be a hit. An enthralling must-read." - Kristin Harmel
"Wow! That's what I said to myself when I finished this book. A fascinating and fabulous story from first page to last, Bearer of Bad News was simply delightful. If I ever get stranded on a desert island, this is the book I want with me because it's worth re-reading over and over and over. Brilliantly written with the kind of characters you carry with you for weeks after you close the book, Bearer of Bad News is a winner from cover to cover." - Karen Hawkins
"In Bearer of Bad News, debut authorElisabeth Dini delivers that rare combination of witty and deep, clever and vulnerable. Lucy Rey is a young woman thrust into a high-stakes mystery in the stunning Italian Dolomites, a Las Vegas hairdresser reeling from heartbreak, she accepts a strange job delivering cryptic messages (bad news!) - only to uncover secrets that stretch back to World War II. With sharp humor and emotional depth, Dini weaves a tale of betrayal, stolen jewels, and the healing power of connection. Brimming with charm and hope, this unforgettable novel will leave readers laughing, reflecting on what's most important in their lives, and ultimately believing in the best of humanity." - Patti Callahan Henry
"Entrancing and funny, this is a story about how intergenerational trauma also creates intergenerational resilience. As Lucy Rey delivers an impossibly difficult message in the Italian Dolomites, she discovers truths about her own past and learns the importance of not letting the darkest of nights consume us. A moving testament to the sacrifices friends make for each other." - Marjan Kamali
"I laughed out loud as I turned the pages of this delightful romp of a novel! Poignant and riveting, Bearer of Bad News is a reminder for us all to examine where we've been as we move through this complicated world. Elisabeth Dini has shot to the top of my list of favorite new authors. I'll be recommending this book to everyone.'" - Marissa Stapley
"One of the most delightful debuts I've ever read, Bearer of Bad News is a laugh-out-loud Bridget Jones-esque tale about a woman searching for a missing necklace in an Italian mountain town while her own life implodes spectacularly. Author Elisabeth Dini - a real-life lawyer and former prosecutor of war crimes and crimes against humanity - also weaves in a heartrending World War II storyline connected to the necklace, which gives this delightful, fast-paced book hidden depth and a surprising amount of emotion. Imagine everything you love about Bridget Jones's Diary, The Maid, and Where'd You Go, Bernadette, interwoven with a tale that honors those who fled Hitler's Germany and lost everything, and you'll have this pitch-perfect novel. Charming, hilarious, and heartfelt, Bearer of Bad News is sure to be a hit. An enthralling must-read." - Kristin Harmel
"Wow! That's what I said to myself when I finished this book. A fascinating and fabulous story from first page to last, Bearer of Bad News was simply delightful. If I ever get stranded on a desert island, this is the book I want with me because it's worth re-reading over and over and over. Brilliantly written with the kind of characters you carry with you for weeks after you close the book, Bearer of Bad News is a winner from cover to cover." - Karen Hawkins
"In Bearer of Bad News, debut authorElisabeth Dini delivers that rare combination of witty and deep, clever and vulnerable. Lucy Rey is a young woman thrust into a high-stakes mystery in the stunning Italian Dolomites, a Las Vegas hairdresser reeling from heartbreak, she accepts a strange job delivering cryptic messages (bad news!) - only to uncover secrets that stretch back to World War II. With sharp humor and emotional depth, Dini weaves a tale of betrayal, stolen jewels, and the healing power of connection. Brimming with charm and hope, this unforgettable novel will leave readers laughing, reflecting on what's most important in their lives, and ultimately believing in the best of humanity." - Patti Callahan Henry
"Entrancing and funny, this is a story about how intergenerational trauma also creates intergenerational resilience. As Lucy Rey delivers an impossibly difficult message in the Italian Dolomites, she discovers truths about her own past and learns the importance of not letting the darkest of nights consume us. A moving testament to the sacrifices friends make for each other." - Marjan Kamali
"I laughed out loud as I turned the pages of this delightful romp of a novel! Poignant and riveting, Bearer of Bad News is a reminder for us all to examine where we've been as we move through this complicated world. Elisabeth Dini has shot to the top of my list of favorite new authors. I'll be recommending this book to everyone.'" - Marissa Stapley
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