Set in the USA, this story follows the outflow from a suicide.
Suicidal Sadie Loman, takes a swan dive from the cliffs, taken by the waves, leaving only her gilded sandals behind. The author describes the raw monolithic seaside really well, this is great for a nice little tragic story.
The story works from the 1st person, who is Avery, the very best friend of Sadie Loman. Beginning at a Plus-one party, which is some weird North American convention where anybody who knows of the party’s existence is invited. She meets Parker, the hansom brooding brother of Sadie. Avery wonders why her best friend isn’t at the party, then the police come and inform that she’s dead. This section works well, blending a party atmosphere well with a transition to the looming horror of death. I like her thought process too, ‘it was hard to simultaneously grieve and construct your own alibi’, which seems a realistic thoughtstream for one caught up in the maelstrom of grief and law.
It’s a little disappointing that Parker is hansom and powerful, shame there are no flaws there to add a little realism to his character, but maybe this will come later as he opens up his character to Avery. As a whole the Loman family are powerful and stoic, so Parker fits this mould well, it will be interesting to see how the story pans out, how the family come into conflict from the point of view of the outsider Avery. Was it suicide? Did she fake her death? She left a few clues with Avery, are there more? Murder?
The first 30 pages are good, hopefully the rest of the book keeps up the trend.
Suicidal Sadie Loman, takes a swan dive from the cliffs, taken by the waves, leaving only her gilded sandals behind. The author describes the raw monolithic seaside really well, this is great for a nice little tragic story.
The story works from the 1st person, who is Avery, the very best friend of Sadie Loman. Beginning at a Plus-one party, which is some weird North American convention where anybody who knows of the party’s existence is invited. She meets Parker, the hansom brooding brother of Sadie. Avery wonders why her best friend isn’t at the party, then the police come and inform that she’s dead. This section works well, blending a party atmosphere well with a transition to the looming horror of death. I like her thought process too, ‘it was hard to simultaneously grieve and construct your own alibi’, which seems a realistic thoughtstream for one caught up in the maelstrom of grief and law.
It’s a little disappointing that Parker is hansom and powerful, shame there are no flaws there to add a little realism to his character, but maybe this will come later as he opens up his character to Avery. As a whole the Loman family are powerful and stoic, so Parker fits this mould well, it will be interesting to see how the story pans out, how the family come into conflict from the point of view of the outsider Avery. Was it suicide? Did she fake her death? She left a few clues with Avery, are there more? Murder?
The first 30 pages are good, hopefully the rest of the book keeps up the trend.