Cupidity — Patricia Wood

A new novel from the best-selling author of Lottery. A coming of age story about greed, survival, and what's important in life. At the bottom of the heap, there's nowhere to go but up. Waitress Tammy Tyree knows this intimately. Her life is a continual struggle of managing an eccentric uncle, looking after a younger brother who's not quite right, and doing everything she can to keep her family together in the small town of Spring, Washington. But Tammy has a couple things going for her no matter how dire things become. She's tenacious and has her own take on karma. Tammy believes the more unfortunate things that happen to a person, the more they're due for a windfall. Each misfortune is further guarantee that opportunity for her is just around the corner. When Tammy receives a confidential email about an inheritance that's hers to claim, she's certain her ship has finally come in. Just a few details need to be ironed out like a small matter of some fees to pay, bank forms to fill out, taxes to remit, but Tammy is sure each complication brings her closer to that golden goose of egg laying renown. What starts as a personal quest ends up embroiling Tammy and everyone she holds dear in a scheme that could be the financial downfall of them all or the rescue of a small town that's slowly but surely falling through the cracks.