Grace Bradley went to work at Riverton House as a servant when she was just a girl, before the First World War. For years her life was inextricably tied up with the Hartford family, most particularly the two daughters, Hannah and Emmeline. In the summer of 1924, at a glittering society party held at the house, a young poet shot himself. The only witnesses were Hannah and Emmeline and only they--and Grace--know the truth. In 1999, when Grace is ninety-eight...

"Seven Island has two houses. One for Hillsingers and one for Quicks. 1964. The Hillsingers and the Quicks have shared the small Maine island of Seven for generations. But though technically family --Jim Hillsinger and Billy Quick married Park Avenue sisters Lila and Hannah Blackwell -- they do not mix. Now, on the anniversary of Hannah's death, Lila feels grief pulling her toward Billy. And Jim, a spy recently ousted from the CIA on suspicion of...