Toni Halleen Knihy

A probing novel about a newly married couple, the surrogate they hire to carry their baby, and the unexpected consequences of their decisions. Ruth is a no-nonsense fortysomething journalist from the Midwest desperate for a child with her new husband, Hal. A divorced attorney and the father of two teenage boys, Hal is open to having another child. But more than anything he wants Ruth to be happy-to become the mother she's always wanted to be. Their hope rests with Cally, a nineteen-year-old who wants to go to college-but doesn't have the cash. The arrangement seems perfect for everyone. All through the pregnancy, Ruth and Hal look forward to the new baby that will make their family complete. But within a day of the baby's birth, Cally has a change of heart - and engineers a harrowing escape from the hospital with the newborn. When Ruth and Hal discover that she and their daughter are gone, a whole series of doubts and secrets are revealed, and it's no longer clear what's right and what's wrong. Set in the vast, sparsely populated upper reaches of northern Minnesota in the middle of winter, The Surrogate follows Ruth, Hal, Cally, and her boyfriend through the ice and snow, from the city to the dark, frozen north country as they run away from, and ultimately towards, one other. In The Surrogate, Toni Halleen raises thought-provoking questions about the nature of family, love, and relationships. What would you do for your partner, when the going gets tough? How much is a pregnancy worth? And who, if anyone, deserves to be a mother?

The story follows sociology professor Matthew Larkin, who grapples with profound loss after the death of his son, leading to a fractured family and career. While seeking shelter from a storm, he discovers a distressed boy hiding under a tarp. Faced with a moral dilemma, Matthew must choose between helping the boy and adhering to societal rules, as the child pleads to avoid the authorities. This encounter forces Matthew to confront his grief and seek redemption, exploring themes of loss, forgiveness, and the complexities of human connection.

The story centers on Matthew Larkin, a sociology professor grappling with profound loss after the death of his son and subsequent family breakdown. Struggling to rebuild his life, he encounters a child in distress during a storm and faces a moral dilemma when the boy pleads against seeking help. Driven by grief and a desire for redemption, Matthew's impulsive decision leads him into a dangerous situation that challenges his understanding of right and wrong, ultimately forcing him to confront his past and seek forgiveness.