Scare
the Light Away
By
Vicki Delany
Rebecca
McKenzle, recently widowed, is a successful Vancouver businesswoman
who returns to Hope River, the small town of her youth. She has
broken an absence of 30 years to attend the funeral of her mother.
She has been estranged from her indifferent father and her older
brother and sister. She had a brutal childhood caused by her psychopathic
grandfather.
She
discovers diaries written by her mother, a British war bride who
came to Canada with a young baby to join her husband and his family.
Her mother's story tells of the disillusionment and tragedy of life
with her husband's family; of the sadistic treatment by her father-in-law
and its consequences.
While
at home, Rebecca learns of the disappearance of Jennifer, a young
girl from the town. The townspeople suspect Rebecca's brother, Jimmy,
who has a checkered past. When Rebecca stumbles on Jennifer's body
with evidence that might implicate Jimmy, the police arrest Jimmy.
It is up to Rebecca to forget the past grievances and try to find
the real killer.
This
is a story of a dysfunctional family that has to breach all its
past grievances to come to terms with the truth. The characters
are presented in depth with their past and present relationships
conflicting with each other. The plot is well constructed. The story
is told in two parts: the present and the past as depicted in the
diaries, the story of he British war bride evoking sympathy and
respect for the stamina of the woman. The action is fast moving
and suspenseful. It is an absorbing picture of the life of a British
war bride in the barren farm lands of Canada.
|
The
Book |
Poisoned
Pen Press |
March
1, 2005 |
Hardcover
|
159058191S
|
Mystery |
More
at Amazon.com |
Excerpt
|
NOTE:
|
The
Reviewer |
Barbara Buhrer |
Reviewed
2005 |
NOTE:
|
|