Cuckoo by Julia Crouch
Polly is Rose’s oldest friend. So when she calls with the news that her husband has died, Rose invites her to stay. A Patti Smith-like music legend of her time, Polly has never believed in conforming, and a quick look at her houseguest’s young sons confirms Rose’s suspicions that Polly has allowed the children to run wild. Rose’s husband is a reluctant host, and one by one all of her close friends warn her of the danger of inviting Polly into her home. But Rose has never been able to refuse Polly anything, and the two share too many secrets for her to risk upsetting her grieving friend. Even when that grief takes unexpected turns, and the safety of Rose’s two daughters is compromised, she still maintains a strange allegiance to her long-term friend. A dark and at times unsettling novel, Cuckoo is an absolute cracker of a read. Just don’t pick it up if you happen to have overnight guests, you might start to wonder when they’re ever going to leave.
|
|
Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
The title of this slow but captivating read comes from the method by which southern children are taught to spell Mississippi: M, I, crooked letter, crooked letter, I, crooked letter, crooked letter, I, humpback, humpback, I. This salient fact is imparted to the reader just before the story kicks off, and it encapsulates the quiet humour and folksy tone of this intriguing tale. Larry Ott and Silas Jones were boyhood pals in rural Mississippi but none of their parents agreed with this friendship that transcended social standing and skin colour. When a teenage girl disappears after a date with Larry, their friendship is ruptured, as is Larry’s reputation and standing in the community. Years later, Silas is the small town’s only police officer, and Larry lives in virtual seclusion. When another young girl disappears, all the old hurts rise to the surface once more, and Larry becomes the focus of intense local speculation.
|
|
