Introducing You To: Sylvia Warsh

by | May 25, 2024 | Introducing You To | 3 comments

It’s my pleasure to introduce you to Sylvia Warsh, a fellow member of Crime Writers of Canada, and an accomplished author and storyteller. Today, Sylvia’s going to tell you about her latest book, The Orphan.
About The Orphan: Samuel Evans is saved from death by an experimental drug that has a unique side-effect: it lets him communicate with animals.
In 1844 when his mother drowns in the Potomac, 15-year-old Samuel loses the will to live and falls gravely ill. He is saved by an experimental drug given to him by the gruff Dr. James Pyper who has developed it from an Amazonian plant. The drug makes Samuel so sensitive to his environment that he can communicate with animals. He sets out to prove his mother didn’t take her own life, helped by encounters with numerous animals.

The doctor’s childless wife, Martha, convinces her husband to adopt Samuel. He discovers that their house is a stop on the Underground Railroad and that Martha helps runaway slaves. While unravelling the mystery surrounding his parents, Samuel uncovers lies and betrayal from people he trusts before learning the truth. The Orphan is set in pre-Civil War Washington DC against the backdrop of slavery.

About the Author: Sylvia Warsh was born in Germany to Holocaust survivors and came to Canada as a child. She is the author of the Dr. Rebecca Temple novels, one of which won an Edgar. The other two were nominated for major awards. Her historical novel, The Queen of Unforgetting, was chosen by Project Bookmark Canada for a plaque installation on their literary map. She has had a novella as well as many short stories published, some of which have been shortlisted for Derringers and Crime Writers of Canada awards. Her new novel, The Orphan, was released on May 15, 2024. Find out more at www.sylviawarsh.com

3 Comments

  1. pmeyer2004
    pmeyer2004 on May 25, 2024 at 11:19 am

    Ooh, I love the hook of being able to communicate with the animals. Best of luck.

    • Judy Penz Sheluk
      Judy Penz Sheluk on May 25, 2024 at 12:12 pm

      Thanks for your continued support Pam!

    • Sylvia
      Sylvia on May 25, 2024 at 3:10 pm

      Thanks, Pam. That was the fun part to write.