A Tale of Community, Resilience, and Commitment
Beloved female impersonator Helena Handbasket seems to have it all—a loving husband, inherited millions, and a promising career. Then the suspicious death of an elderly widow sends shock waves through the seaside resort of Provincetown. Wrongly accused of the murder, Helena goes undercover to track down those responsible.
Aided by her chosen family, she uses her extensive drag wardrobe, comic genius, and extraordinary talent for impersonation to navigate a maze of deception and greed that includes a museum break-in, thefts of iconic artwork, and some shady liaisons. As the investigation gains momentum, the past increasingly influences the present, exposing hidden secrets and imperiling Helena’s well-heeled existence.
Set amid Cape Cod’s natural beauty and vibrant summer season, this captivating second novel in the HomePort Chronicles unfolds against the backdrop of a small town’s struggle to balance its newfound celebrity with a cherished way of life.
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“The mystery charms and surprises, but the novel’s deeper joy is its enticing depiction of a town and its people proudly out of the mainstream—the prose, plot, and dialogue gush and bubble like champagne uncorked.”
– Booklife by Publisher’s Weekly
Editor’s Pick
“Though marketed as an LGBTQ novel, the tale’s pathos and heartfelt communal spirit will endear Helena, Butch (Helena’s spouse), and Helena’s many friends and associates to mainstream readers as well. . . In many ways, the tale is a timely tribute to the resilient, connecting spirit of drag performance and a push against the current political storm of misunderstanding and hatred.”
– Kate Robinson, US Review of Books
Recommended Review
“Through immense pressure, moments of loss, and questions about identity and belonging, Helena is a brilliant protagonist that is always changing and growing, and importantly, always thinking ahead. In The Distance Between Us, Burch has crafted an intricate yet heartfelt page-turner that leaves readers engaged to the last.”
– Genevieve Hartman
Independent Book Review
“Helena finds herself at the center of a murder case as strange as the Cape has ever seen, one involving stolen art, secret lovers, and some grade-A impersonating. . . Burch summons Provincetown’s eclectic, art-and-barnacles ethos with an eye for detail and plenty of campy humor.”
– Kirkus Reviews
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Photo Credit: Ric Ide
