The Balance of Fear
Elizabeth Stanton fled New York for Seattle, trading a career on Broadway for a teaching position in theater arts and a house built like a beautiful fort.
Then Beth's life is upended once again when her favorite student is found dead inside an empty theater. The truth of Alyson's death lies intertwined with the lives of four women, with the production of the play Madame Butterfly, and by a modern day Lieutenant Pinkerson.
This psychological mystery reflects contemporary and historical issues of race, gender, and abuse of power. In this novel life imitates art, with deadly consequences.
Praise for the Balance of Fear
Great mystery read and also addressed mental disorders in a sensitive way. I ended up reading it in one evening as I was so absorbed by what was in front of me and I had to see how everything was going to end… An absolute must-read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ --Michelle Coates on NetGalley
This book was a pretty great mystery read, I was engrossed from the beginning because of how many different storylines aided the plot, and it ended beautifully. I would love to see the book enacted someday because I think it would translate very well in media. --Mohaddesa Meherali on NetGalley
The mystery of Alyson's murder, Beth and other characters' backstories, and John's court case lend themselves to Hall's examination of victims vs. victimizers and the lasting effects of these roles. This is truly a testament to Hall's skill for clarity and structure as a writer, which makes for a seamless and enjoyable reading experience. --Shai Palmer on Reedsy Discovery
