The Ice House

From a writer whos been praised for her intelligence, heart, wit (Richard Russo, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Empire Falls), The Ice House follows the beleaguered MacKinnons as they weather the possible loss of the family business, a serious medical diagnosis, and the slings and arrows of familial discord. Johnny MacKinnon might be on the verge of losing it all. The ice factory he married into, which hes run for decades, is facing devastating OSHA fines following a mysterious accident and may have to close. The only hope for Johnnys livelihood is that someone in the community saw something, but no one seems to be coming forward. He hasnt spoken to his son Corran back in Scotland since Corrans heroin addiction finally drove Johnny to the breaking point. And now, after a collapse on the factory floor, it appears Johnny may have a brain tumor. Johnnys been ordered to take it easy, but in some ways, he thinks, whats left to lose? This may be his last chance to bridge the gap with Corranand to have any sort of relationship with the baby granddaughter hes never met. Witty and heartbreaking by turns, The Ice House is a vibrant portrait of multifaceted, exquisitely human characters that readers will not soon forget. It firmly establishes Laura Lee Smith as a gifted voice in American fiction.