“A tense and atmospheric thriller about secrets and the price we pay to keep them. The Sins of Good People is a stunning debut.”
–Carol Goodman, Two-time Mary Higgins Clark Award Winner and author of The Lake of Dead Languages and Our Marriage is Murder
THE SINS OF GOOD PEOPLE
On a fall night in 1951, Lily Ambrose disappeared, leaving behind only a pair of shoes, a family Bible, and questions no one wants to answer. Years later, when her body is finally recovered from the lake, the town settles on a convenient version of the truth.
But some stories refuse to stay buried.
Told through an unforgettable cast of voices – including two sisters bound by circumstance, a midwife who knows the weight of secrets all too well, and the children who accidentally stumble upon truths they were never meant to know – The Sins of Good People unfolds as a slow-burn mystery about what really happened to Lily… and who’s been keeping it quiet.
Suspenseful, compassionate, and deeply human, The Sins of Good People is a riveting story of innocence and complicity, childhood and power, and the dangerous comfort of believing that only bad people do bad things.
Coming in April 2027 from akaStory at Abrams.
Events
Check back soon for a list of upcoming events.
Press & Reviews
"THE SINS OF GOOD PEOPLE is an elegant puzzle box of a novel that unravels the murder of a young woman across two generations and four viewpoints, including a world-weary midwife, a former bookseller with secrets, and two resourceful and intelligent children who stumble into a secret way over their heads. Kelly Young Chang skillfully explores themes of good and evil, expediency and desperation, grudges and forgiveness through clear-voiced characters and intricate plot-weaving—an astoundingly accomplished debut!"
–Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of THE ROSE CODE and THE ALICE NETWORK
“THE SINS OF GOOD PEOPLE is a stunning debut. Kelly Young Chang has written an enthralling mystery that unspools into a richly layered portrait of a community clinging to morality while looking away from what’s happening in plain sight. I fell hard for these characters and won’t soon forget them.”
–Laura Zigman, bestselling author of SMALL WORLD and THE AUTHOR WEEKEND
“At times vulnerable, at times menacing, the voices in THE SINS OF GOOD PEOPLE unravel a tapestry of secrets that kept me on edge while hunting for clues. Young Chang has crafted a spellbinding debut that glimmers with quiet intrigue.”
–Ledia Xhoga, author of MISINTERPRETATION, longlisted for The Booker Prize
Parade: Whispers, Secrets, and Scandal: Cover Reveal & Exclusive Excerpt for ‘The Sins of Good People’
Publishers Weekly: Abrams Plans First Commercial Fiction Imprint
Book Clubs
Kelly is honored by any book club considering reading The Sins of Good People. If you’d like Kelly to virtually attend your event, please submit a request through her contact form with information about your book club and the event. She is happy to attend when available.
ABOUT
Kelly Young Chang is the author of The Sins of Good People, forthcoming from akaStory at Abrams in 2027. She is a member of the Women of Words workshop group and a graduate of Emerson College with double degrees in Acting and Writing. In her writing, Kelly is drawn to stories about isolated and morally gray characters, the juxtaposition of humor and sadness, redemptive arcs amidst darkness, and characters who grapple with issues of faith and doubt. Kelly grew up just outside Poughkeepsie, New York, and she now lives in New York City with her husband and son.
Contact
Kelly’s literary agent:
Lori Galvin
Aevitas Creative Management
lgalvin@aevitascreative.com
Film/TV Rights
Allison Warren & Kayla Grogan
Aevitas Creative Management
film@aevitascreative.com
Foreign Rights
Erin Files
Aevitas Creative Management
efiles@aevitascreative.com
For all other inquiries, please fill out the form.