🔥 Book Review: Where There’s Smoke by Jodi Picoult (Kindle Edition, Kindle Single)
A compact, emotionally charged prequel to Leaving Time—Jodi Picoult uses this short story to introduce Serenity Jones, a psychic whose gift, ambition, and pride collide in a moment of public reckoning.
🧠 Overview
First published on May 19, 2014, Where There’s Smoke is a 41-page Kindle Single that works both as a standalone character study and as #0.5 in the Leaving Time universe.
It follows Serenity Jones, a psychic medium who has been aware of her abilities since childhood. Now a TV celebrity with her own hit show, Serenity delivers messages from the dead to the living—part comfort, part spectacle. But the pressures of fame and the temptation to push boundaries for ratings begin to cloud her judgment.
When she invites a young war widow onto her program, the episode spirals into controversy, forcing Serenity to confront the cost of her choices and the fragility of her reputation.
🔍 Key Themes & Highlights
- 🔮 Psychic phenomena: Explores the tension between genuine intuition and performance for entertainment.
- 📺 Media ethics: The compromises and moral gray areas of television stardom.
- 🧠 Character depth: A focused look at Serenity’s ambition, pride, and vulnerability.
- ⚡ Foreshadowing: Sets up Serenity’s role in Leaving Time without requiring prior knowledge.
- ✍️ Picoult’s style in miniature: Tight pacing, emotional beats, and moral complexity condensed into a short form.
“Pride comes at a high price.” — Where There’s Smoke tagline
💬 Reader Reception
- ⭐ Goodreads rating: ~3.6/5 from over 24,000 ratings
- 📖 Fans of Leaving Time enjoy the extra backstory for Serenity, while newcomers find it a quick, engaging standalone.
- 🧾 Some note it’s lighter on Picoult’s trademark plot twists—there’s less time for shifting perspectives in such a short format—but still delivers atmosphere and intrigue.
⚠️ Considerations
- 📄 Short format: At 41 pages, it’s a vignette rather than a full mystery or drama.
- 📚 Best for series fans: Works alone, but resonates more if you plan to read Leaving Time.
- 🧠 Character over plot: The focus is on Serenity’s arc, not a complex storyline.
🏁 Final Verdict
Where There’s Smoke is a quick, engaging character prequel that offers a glimpse into the life of a flawed but fascinating psychic. It’s a satisfying coffee-break read for Picoult fans and a tempting appetizer for those considering Leaving Time.
