Darling Girl

February 7, 2022
Michalski’s well-constructed second novel (after Evenfall) extends the world of Peter Pan into a fascinating contemporary drama which dives deeply into themes of aging, generational trauma, and the things parents are willing to do for—or to—their children. Holly Darling, skincare entrepreneur and granddaughter of the famous Wendy (who was the informant to J.M. Barrie’s novel), has two living children: Eden, whose been comatose for the last decade because of a rapid aging condition, and Jack, whose severe injuries, incurred during the accident that killed his father and twin, can be temporarily cured by secret injections of Eden’s blood, which has miraculous healing properties. When Eden disappears from the house in Cornwall where Holly hid her, Holly suspects Eden’s father, Peter Pan, is responsible, and that the whole Darling family could be in danger. Michalski offers creative reworkings of classic characters—a dangerously narcissistic Peter, an unhinged and abused Tinker Bell, and a relentless one-handed detective who may or may not be Captain Hook—but it’s the real-world side of the drama between Holly, her mother, her children, and her business partner that takes center stage. This dark, magical tale is sure to win fans. Agent: Andrea Cirillo and Jess Errera, Jane Rotrosen Agency.

April 1, 2022
Magic hovers on the edges of contemporary life in Michalski's (Evenfall, 2011) second novel, a darkly creative spin on the mythos of Peter Pan. English-born scientist Holly Darling, a partner in a thriving Manhattan skincare company and mother of active teenager Jack, suffers considerable private anguish. She lost her husband and Jack's twin brother in a car crash, and a subsequent accident has left her daughter, Eden, in a coma for the last decade. When Eden vanishes from her Cornwall residence, her window mysteriously ajar, Holly suspects Peter Pan's involvement. After all, she is Wendy Darling's granddaughter and knows the truth about his nefarious nature. Moreover, Eden's blood has curative properties, and Jack's health depends on regular infusions of it. Curiously, the private detective Holly hires, war veteran Christopher Cooke, reminds her of Peter Pan's longtime nemesis. This addictive tale about a mother's desperation and grief, ethical dilemmas, and the price of agelessness offers the emotional heft of Jodi Picoult's issue-driven fiction, sprinkled with a dash of pixie dust. Readers will be (dare we say it?) hooked.

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