The Anonymous Storyteller (A Novel)

From the bestselling author of the Murray McBride series comes a heartwarming ode to books, music, and love that brims with hope, heartbreak, and the transformative power of stories.

Thirteen-year-old Simon Branch is an only child in a close-knit family of musical storytellers, living in a bubble of domestic warmth and anonymity. But when Simon’s mother, Cassandra, becomes an overnight singing sensation, the Branches learn that the price of fame can be high.

Years later, Simon is an author; estranged from his father and still reeling from personal loss, he decides to volunteer in a book-reading program for palliative care patients. He soon crosses paths with Andie Fry, a thirty-year-old podcaster and single mom. They are instantly drawn to each other by their mutual love of words and become vital parts of each other’s lives. After Andie learns she has terminal cancer, her sole mission now becomes how to leave her beloved eleven-year-old son, Jax, a meaningful legacy. Hoping for help with writing a story to guide Jax after she’s gone, Andie sets out to uncover the identity of her favorite writer, the mysterious bestselling novelist known as the Anonymous Storyteller. Together, Andie and Simon use their past and present to discover just how life-changing a story can be.

A moving novel of family and perseverance, The Anonymous Storyteller is a poignant reminder of the power of stories and songs to strengthen us in the face of life’s challenges.