The Nature of Fragile Things

By: Susan Meissner

Narrated by: Alana Kerr Collins, Jason Culp

April 18, 1906: A massive earthquake rocks San Francisco just before daybreak, igniting a devouring inferno. Lives are lost, lives are shattered, but some rise from the ashes forever changed.

Sophie Whalen is a young Irish immigrant so desperate to get out of a New York tenement that she answers a mail-order bride ad and agrees to marry a man she knows nothing about. San Francisco widower Martin Hocking proves to be as aloof as he is mesmerizingly handsome. Sophie quickly develops deep affection for Kat, Martin's silent five-year-old daughter, but Martin's odd behavior leaves her with the uneasy feeling that something about her newfound situation isn't right.

Then one early-spring evening, a stranger at the door sets in motion a transforming chain of events. Sophie discovers hidden ties to two other women. The first, pretty and pregnant, is standing on her doorstep. The second is hundreds of miles away in the American Southwest, grieving the loss of everything she once loved.

The fates of these three women intertwine on the eve of the devastating earthquake, thrusting them onto a perilous journey that will test their resiliency and resolve and, ultimately, their belief that love can overcome fear.

From the acclaimed author of The Last Year of the War and As Bright as Heaven comes a gripping novel about the bonds of friendship and mother love, and the power of female solidarity.

Praise for The Nature of Fragile Things

“A mysterious web of lies, love, and loss that accelerates toward the inevitable: the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906." (Kristin Harmel, author of The Book of Lost Names)

“A riveting tale set in 1906 San Francisco. These fascinating characters' hidden pasts and dark secrets collide, entwine, and explode - and that's before the earthquake hits." (Greer Macallister, author of The Magician's Lie and The Arctic Fury)

“In the ashes of San Francisco's greatest tragedy, one remarkable woman finds love, friendship, and the means to rebuild. Historical fiction that reads with the urgency and suspense of a thriller.” (Lauren Willig, New York Times best-selling author of The Summer Country)

“Driven by the unstoppable force of the three intriguing women at its heart, this is a novel to savor, and one to share with all the women in your life whom you admire." (Hazel Gaynor, New York Times best-selling author of When We Were Young & Brave)

©2021 Susan Meissner (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Meissner spins an exceptional story.... Unexpected and masterfully crafted twists and turns abound.... Ingeniously plotted and perfectly structured, this captivates from beginning to end.” (Publisher's Weekly, starred review)

“A terrific tale that takes us on a harrowing cable-car ride through early 20th-century San Francisco, where dark secrets - like the city itself - crack wide open, forcing our world-weary heroine to confront the devastation done by the lies she's been told and by the lies she's still telling.” (Stephanie Dray, author of America’s First Daughter and The Women of Chateau Lafayette)

“A brilliant story of resilience and the power of female friendship." (Marie Benedict, New York Times best-selling author of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie)

Completely Engaging

I don't often listen to fiction or drama as I often find it too corny or predictable. I usually prefer nonfiction or autobiographies... However, I was completely won over by this novel mixture of fact & fiction, and a story that kept me fully engaged. I also felt like the narrator was perfect for the part! I enjoyed her insights, inflection, and tone. I can't recommend this book highly enough enough!

Nature of Fragile Things

I love San Francisco so hearing about places and streets I’m familiar with made this book more interesting. The whole premise of the 1906 earthquake was very well documented. I thoroughly enjoyed the various twists and progress of Cat during her emotional recovery. A very good book and excellent narration!!

The Nature of Fragile Things

WOW! Could not stop listening to this one. The writing was superb and the narrations just took it over the top. Great job all around. Enjoy!

Couldnt wait for the next chapter!

The nature of fragile things is a story about an immigrants survival in a new country, her nievty and possibly more optimism gets her into a pickle for sure but the way the story unfolds along with secrets her push for love and security take her farther than she ever thought she could go. I couldn’t wait till the end to see what would happen but so worth the wait loved this book and I highly recommend, so far my favorite read this year!! Forgot to mention the earthquake of 1806 plays a huge part of the story and comes along maybe at the perfect time. I don’t want to give away any more

Just Couldn’t Stop Listening!

As a member of a book club, I’ve read several books this year...”The Nature of Fragile Things” has been one of my favorites!

I love historical fiction. The book recreated a turn of the century world where the human spirit rises like a Phoenix out of the ashes of disaster, where even good can come of bad occurrences.

The unpredictable left me hanging on every word. If I have to state something I did not like about Susan Meissner’s recent novel, it would be that it had to come to an end. I LOVED THIS BOOK!

Thoroughly Enjoyed this book

I listened to this book in less than three days. I needed to find out what happened and if heroine snd little girl would be fine. There was more to this book, and I kept waiting getting hits snd pieces to the puzzle. Can’t wait to read another of Susan Meissners books.

Such an interesting read!

This has been such an enjoyable listen! I could not stop listening! I learned so much! Before this book I have never heard of this historical earthquake and fire. This is a must read.

Great! Didn’t want it to end!

I live in San Francisco & this was the best portrayal of the 1906 earthquake I’ve ever read in a novel. But believe it or not, there was much more drama than that! The plot is multilayered and very imaginative. The characters are well developed, especially Sophie the heroine. I think the Irish accent of the narrator added a lot to my enjoyment. There are quite a few surprises and the ending is great! I am so sad it is over!

My favorite Susan Meissner book yet!

Susan is a great story teller of historical Fiction. This book has great character development and kept my interest from the beginning all the way till the satisfying yet touching end.

Another wonderful historical fiction by Meissner

I love historical fiction and this author has a way of making you feel like you are right in the middle of the past.