For fans of Anne Tyler and Jojo Moyes, a tartly compassionate and contemporary tale of sibling love and conflict, marital challenges, and what personal fulfillment looks like—or doesn't—in middle age.
Mid-life: Its obligations and demands, its petty foibles and evasions. And sometimes, its crises. Dreams are deferred, shortcomings rationalized. Like old favorite clothes, petty misdemeanors may feel comfortable, but they're not a good look.
The Talley siblings are planning a family beach vacation—all four of them together for the first time in years. They suspect it will be their last. And God knows they all need a vacation. But wait, is it really such a good idea? Corina, with her recently diagnosed Alzheimer's, can hardly manage to get through a day without a debacle. Pete is a just-barely-walking catalog of medical calamities stemming from his longtime addictions. Becca is reeling from her teenage son's latest misadventure. And then there is Kathy, the eldest. After firmly avoiding going back to Rincón Bay, the beach town just a few hours south of the Arizona–Mexico border that has haunted her since a college spring break trip three decades ago, she's determined to go back and face her ghosts—although she might be better off facing the fact that her marriage is in serious trouble.
When the Talley siblings and their entourage (two spouses, added on at the last minute, and Corina's Mexican housekeeper/caregiver) finally land in Rincón Bay, they all encounter unexpected consequences from the wounds inflicted by careless loving—but maybe, too, the seeds of healing and hope.
Early Reviews of Tiny Vices
"...a wise novel about navigating midlife...." — Foreword Reviews
"...an emotional, heartfelt and poignant novel … well-written and thought-provoking … highly recommend" — Linda's Book Obsession
“Author Linda Dahl, an acclaimed jazz historian and novelist, has a terrific ear for dialogue and eye for detail … Dahl compellingly interweaves the family’s complex stories and interactions, intensified by the stark beauty of the desert.” — Goodreads
"Siblings take a last-gasp vacation to Mexico in Dahl’s novel....There’s a lot of complexity crammed into this fairly brief story, and the realism is impressive..." — Kirkus Reviews
"...a feisty, well-written tale of present-day adult siblings....The plot twists and character development will keep readers turning the pages, and maybe even see a bit of themselves in some of the sibling interactions. A very worthwhile book to read." — Ann McCauley, StoryCircle Book Reviews
Press / Events
Author2Author Podcast (June 6, 2025)
Interview with Hasty Book List (July 20, 2025)
Chick Lit Central (July 22, 2025)
Dear Reader (July 22, 2025)
Women Writers, Women’s Books (July 22, 2025)
Book Q&A’s with Deborah Kalb (July 23, 2025)
Music in Tiny Vices (July 23, 2025)