Published by Penzler Publishing Genres: Adult Fiction, Mystery, suspense, thriller
Format: ARC, eBook
“Is forgiveness the first step to salvation and eternal grace?”
Mary Grace Dobbs, the first female sheriff of her rural hometown, has been waiting for salvation for twenty-four years. After her parent’s deaths when she was eleven-year-old, she went to live with her aunt and uncle and cousin, Noah who had a fondness for killing small animals. Everything changed for her when Nadia moved to town. She finally had a best friend! But things changed when Nadia then another classmate went missing never to be seen again.
“Wickedness never goes unpunished. Sooner or later, the piper must be paid.”
Macy being the won sheriff did not go over so well with the locals. Small towns have long memories. Then a man returns to town and another sixth grader goes missing. Coincidence? Hmm, one thing is for sure – prejudice and secrets are all around. For a religious, church going town, they have forgotten their bible verses – John 15:12 ““This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (English Standard Version of the Bible).
“It’s not the Devil they should fear. It’s something worse. God’s wrath.”
This book had an interesting ebb and flow to it for me. The book started strong and then my attention waivered and then the book grabbed me again. An interesting part of this book for me was the perceptions, snap judgements, secrets and guilt of a young girl and how these things continue to affect (and shape) her life. The small town, itself is a character with its secrets, it’s gossip, its prejudice, it’s judgement and it’s memory.
There is a sense of tension and heaviness to this book. The weight of secrets, silence and guilt. There are beautiful passages and apt title. There is a darkness to this book. It’s heavy and you can feel the emotion seeping through the pages.
A winning debut which is both thought provoking and atmospheric.
“Repentance never looked more beautiful.”
Thank you to Penzler Publishers and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.