Evocative and visually rich, Box-Shaped Heart transports the reader to 19th-century Upstate New York, where society is poised on the brink of the modern world. From dusty rural villages to the smokestacks of industry, the American landscape is changing. Newt Rowell is an up-and-coming industrialist with a bright future. Flush with success, he moves his factory to the boomtown of Batavia, New York, and builds a new home for his lovely young family. But when his partner discovers that Newt's wife is having an affair with a lawyer from back home, everything he believes is cast into doubt. Torn between the dream he built and the world that's crumbling around him, Newt vows to win Jennie back at any cost.
Thomas Gahr was born in Batavia, New York, and grew up just around the corner from the Rowell Mansion. A lifelong interest in the stories and history of his hometown led him to research and write this novel about the circumstances surrounding the murder. This is his first book. He currently resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife and two children.