A Book A Week

To say Kat and Cleo's relationship is complicated would be an understatement. After all, what mother-daughter relationship isn't? Kat has always strived to provide Cleo the best life possible, going above and beyond to fulfill her dreams. However, Cleo sees her mother's efforts as overbearing and suffocating. As a college student, Cleo has often found herself in trouble, most recently with a trust fund brat turned drug dealer who involved her in his illicit activities and became physically abusive. Their relationship ended in an explosive confrontation, and Cleo suspects that Kat might have had something to do with it. Now, though, Kat is determined to rebuild their broken relationship.

When Cleo arrives late for dinner at her parents' home, she is met with a disturbing scene. The meal Kat was preparing is left forgotten in the oven, overcooking—something her perfectionist mother would never allow. Cleo finds no trace of her mother while searching her childhood home. The closet upstairs holds only her mother's clothes, with no sign of her father's belongings. Cleo's unease turns to alarm when she discovers Kat's bloody shoe under the sofa. Something terrible has happened. Kat, the embodiment of perfection—a happily married corporate lawyer with an idyllic life—has disappeared, and Cleo realizes that things are far from what they seem.

"A problem that starts with people usually has to end that way, too. And your mom is good with people. Very good. Just like you."

In Like Mother, Like Daughter, Kimberly McCreight crafts a mystery novel that delves into the intricacies of a parent-child relationship. Parents often aim to provide the best for their children but sometimes overlook that their child has their own unique desires and dreams. There's a fine line between wanting the best for a child and imposing one's own idea of what's best. McCreight explores this gray area, balancing the desire for a better future with the need to atone for a parent's past mistakes, adding a depth that elevates the story beyond a typical summer thriller.

As the novel progresses, McCreight expertly reveals small pieces of information, gradually uncovering the truth behind Kat's disappearance. I was impressed with how she unraveled the story, alternating between Cleo and Kat's perspectives. Kat's sections unfold in the days leading up to her disappearance, while Cleo's occur in the aftermath. These dual timelines converge in a conclusion that, while not the most shocking, brings both the mystery and the mother-daughter relationship to a satisfying resolution.  Like Mother, Like Daughter is a gripping summer read that captivates with its intriguing mystery while offering a poignant exploration of a mother-daughter bond.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 58)

This year, a significant part of my reading has been dedicated to exploring the works of new authors I hadn't previously encountered. Venturing into uncharted literary territory has yielded fairly mixed results. While some authors failed to strike a chord with me, others have swiftly risen to the status of must-reads. Hannah Morrissey firmly belongs to the latter group. Her debut novel, Hello, Transcriber, captivated me with its evocative ambiance and gripping narrative, prompting me to eagerly consume her subsequent work. Now, Morrissey revisits the fictional town of Black Harbor for a third time with her latest release, When I'm Dead. True to her distinctive style, it's another page-turner that skillfully fuses atmospheric suspense, intriguing characters, and a compelling mystery. 

Black Harbor, Wisconsin, is no stranger to crime and tragedy. It holds the dubious distinction of being the most crime-ridden town in the state. In the midst of this tumultuous backdrop, husband and wife Rowan and Axel navigate their roles as a medical examiner and a detective. Their daily routines often involve responding to gruesome crime scenes. Thus, when they receive an urgent call to abandon their daughter's high school play and investigate a murder, it doesn't come as a surprise. When they arrive on the scene, however, they are taken aback to discover the murder victim is one of their daughter's best friends. The shadow of tragedy has descended upon their lives, poised to become even more personal. 

In the harrowing hours following their return home from the murder investigation, Rowan and Axel make a disconcerting discovery – their daughter, Chloe, failed to return from the school play. As the search for Chloe unfolds alongside the murder inquiry, their relationship becomes increasingly tainted with guilt and recrimination. A grim tapestry of clues gradually unravels, compelling these parents to question how well they truly knew their daughter. Did their unwavering dedication to their careers eclipse their family life? Could they have prevented Chloe's disappearance? Most disconcerting of all, could Chloe be somehow connected to her friend's death?

In When I'm Dead, Hannah Morrissey ventures into her darkest and most captivating mystery to date. As in her previous works, she skillfully constructs a grim and unsettling atmosphere within her fictional town, infusing each page with a palpable sense of foreboding. Morrissey crafts a multi-faceted mystery that delves deep into the primal fears of parenthood. The death of a child is one form of anguish; the chilling notion that one's child may be a murderer introduces an entirely distinct dimension of dread. The characters in this narrative are intricately portrayed, with the simmering tensions among teenage girls providing a delectable layer of drama and authenticity. I had the privilege of experiencing this story through its audiobook format, graciously provided by Macmillan Audio. The full cast narration featuring Andrew Eiden, Caitlin Kelly, Gary Tiedemann, and Xe Sands breathes life into the characters and adeptly captures the story's brisk pace and suspenseful essence.

Each of the three books in Morrissey's Black Harbor series can be enjoyed as standalone works, yet they seamlessly interconnect, offering readers an immersive experience regardless of their familiarity with the series. Still, I wholeheartedly recommend delving into each of these remarkable tales. Hannah Morrissey's writing has become one of my favorite discoveries this year, and When I'm Dead solidifies her status as one of my must-read authors.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2023, 81)