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Table of Contents
About The Book
“Many and wondrous are the charms of this witty, suspenseful, and enchanting book.” —The Wall Street Journal
The discovery of a suspicious death at a famous Swiss physics laboratory sparks a mystery that merges science, philosophy, and the high-stakes race to unlock the fundamental nature of our universe in this thrilling new novel from the Edgar Award–nominated author of the “hugely entertaining” (The Wall Street Journal) The Last Equation of Isaac Severy.
Deep beneath the ground outside of Geneva, where CERN’s Large Hadron Collider smashes subatomic particles at breathtaking speeds, a startling discovery is made when the tunnel is down for maintenance: the body of Howard Anderby, a brilliant and recently arrived young physicist, who appears to have been irradiated by the collider. But security shows no evidence of him entering the tunnel, and for all of the lab’s funding, its video surveillance is sorely lacking.
Eager to keep the death under wraps until more is known, CERN brings in private investigator Sabine Leroux, who has her own ties to the lab’s administration—and more than a passing interest in particle physics. Meanwhile, Howard’s colleague and budding love interest Eve, shattered by his death, determines to reconcile what she knew of Howard with his gruesome fate, wondering if she could have done something to stop it.
As Sabine digs into petty academic rivalries and personal secrets, an escalating international physics arms race heightens tensions and fuels speculation of a mole at the lab—throwing into question loyalties and revealing what sort of knowledge may be worth killing for.
The discovery of a suspicious death at a famous Swiss physics laboratory sparks a mystery that merges science, philosophy, and the high-stakes race to unlock the fundamental nature of our universe in this thrilling new novel from the Edgar Award–nominated author of the “hugely entertaining” (The Wall Street Journal) The Last Equation of Isaac Severy.
Deep beneath the ground outside of Geneva, where CERN’s Large Hadron Collider smashes subatomic particles at breathtaking speeds, a startling discovery is made when the tunnel is down for maintenance: the body of Howard Anderby, a brilliant and recently arrived young physicist, who appears to have been irradiated by the collider. But security shows no evidence of him entering the tunnel, and for all of the lab’s funding, its video surveillance is sorely lacking.
Eager to keep the death under wraps until more is known, CERN brings in private investigator Sabine Leroux, who has her own ties to the lab’s administration—and more than a passing interest in particle physics. Meanwhile, Howard’s colleague and budding love interest Eve, shattered by his death, determines to reconcile what she knew of Howard with his gruesome fate, wondering if she could have done something to stop it.
As Sabine digs into petty academic rivalries and personal secrets, an escalating international physics arms race heightens tensions and fuels speculation of a mole at the lab—throwing into question loyalties and revealing what sort of knowledge may be worth killing for.
About The Author
Photograph by Randy Shropshire
Nova Jacobs has an MFA from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts and is a recipient of the Nicholl Fellowship from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jeremy. She is the author of The Stars Turned Inside Out and The Last Equation of Isaac Severy.
Why We Love It
“Nova Jacobs occupies a very special spot on my list, because her debut novel The Last Equation of Isaac Severy was the first book I ever acquired. It was a fabulous first publication experience—an Indie Next pick, Book of the Month selection, and an Edgar Award nominee. And so for years I waited for her follow-up. I knew that she was working on a novel set in the physics world and especially at CERN. When it came in, I realized it utilized her great talents: explaining topics like physics and math to a lay audience and creating a compelling mystery that utilizes scientific underpinnings to construct a lightly speculative twist. The Stars Turned Inside Out kept me engaged with the mystery, and also taught me a lot about particle physics—something I know little about. I always strive to read books that are entertaining and educational (although not always in the same package!) and this one delivers on both accounts.”
—Kaitlin O., Executive Editor, on The Stars Turned Inside Out
Product Details
- Publisher: Atria Books (March 19, 2024)
- Length: 320 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668018569
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Raves and Reviews
“Many and wondrous are the charms of this witty, suspenseful and enchanting book… One eagerly awaits whatever brainteasing concoction Ms. Jacobs comes up with next.”
—Wall Street Journal
"Nova Jacobs returns with another brainy, brilliant murder mystery."
—BookPage
"Who knew particle physics could be so bewitching?"
—Los Angeles Times
“Nova Jacobs’s novel is a gripping murder mystery. But it's also so much more—it's an invitation into the secretive world of CERN, an exploration of the limits of science, and a haunting reminder of how easily we can be made to believe the unthinkable. A dark and absorbing novel, The Stars Turned Inside Out will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about the scientific method and academic competition.”
—Katy Hays, New York Times bestselling author of The Cloisters
“This is a classic murder mystery set in the world of particle physics, and it’s a dark matter indeed! Intelligent, thoughtful and brimming with energy, The Stars Turned Inside Out explores the human drive to uncover the truth, whether that’s solving the mysteries of the universe or the brutal murder of an enigmatic physicist. Science, love, greed, and betrayal collide in a tense read that never loses its deliciously eerie edge.”
—Janice Hallett, author of The Appeal and The Twyford Code
“Jacobs elevates the death-in-the-workplace trope to staggering heights in this science-based thriller that fuses physics and philosophy in mindbending ways… Jacobs delves into subjects as deep as the nature of the universe and the space-time continuum and as quotidian as romantic love and professional jealousy, giving careful readers much to contemplate.”
—Booklist
“An engrossing whodunit revolving around Geneva’s Large Hadron Collider... Jacobs bestows even minor characters with such convincing motives that the plot’s momentum never slows, no matter how complex things get. Golden age mystery fans will love this.”
—Publishers Weekly
"Perhaps the most inventive setting in recent memory."
—Paste Magazine
“Mindbending and exquisite, The Stars Turned Inside Out takes us deep within the Hadron Collider and into the hearts and minds of the brilliant people at its helm. Jacobs takes on particle physics and metaphysics with the intellect of a scientist, the skillful plotting of a mystery writer, and the grace of an artist.”
—Caroline Frost, author of Shadows of Pecan Hollow and The Last Verse
“The Stars Turned Inside Out is a gripping, singular mystery brimming with delightful characters, fascinating ideas, and a setting of pure intrigue. Nova Jacobs effortlessly blends physics and metaphysics, art and romance, while never letting the reader forget we are in the heart of a thrilling whodunnit. This book is incredible!”
—Matthew Sullivan, author of Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore
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- Book Cover Image (jpg): The Stars Turned Inside Out eBook 9781668018569
- Author Photo (jpg): Nova Jacobs Photograph by Randy Shropshire(0.1 MB)
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