The Tightrope Walker

Dorothy Gilman's 1979 standalone is a quiet gem for readers who love a mystery layered over a character study. Sheltered orphan Amelia Jones buys a Pennsylvania junk shop on impulse, finds a desperate hidden note inside an old hurdy-gurdy, and — for the first time in her life — has a reason to act. Her pursuit of the truth into the coast of Maine is as much a coming-of-age story as a thriller, and Gilman's graceful prose gives Amelia genuine warmth and depth. Kirkus Reviews appreciated the novel at publication, and it has held its reputation among Gilman fans. Content note for conservative readers: there is a brief, non-graphic sexual encounter. Pacing is leisurely rather than propulsive, so thriller fans expecting urgency may need to adjust expectations.