The real secret in Katheryn's Secret is one of narrative style. This is a book that you can't put down -- not because of the intrinsic power of the story, but rather because it is told so well. The narrative proceeds at what seems a leisurely pace -- focusing on hints of a possible murder decades before, with lots of digressions dealing with current-day events in the life of the narrator and her family and their concerns regarding religion, in particular their disillusionment with and rebellion from the legalistic view of religion that predominated in previous generations. But as the story unfolds -- revealing just enough in each chapter to keep you intrigued, and keeping you intrigued enough so you pay attention to everything, even to what seems to be irrelevant -- it turns out that everything is essential to the plot, that the old mystery and the current concerns have much in common, all related to the underlying religious theme.
"Religious theme"? For a suspense/mystery story? Why not? It is common for a series of mystery stories to be held together by a common moral thread, which usually is tied to the personality of the detective. That is certainly the case with Robert Parker's Spenser novels. Everything that happens in such a book attains significance with respect to the underlying moral code. In fact, Spenser is often far more interested in resolving the ambiguities in his code, as forced on him by the challenge at hand, than in carrying out the wishes of his current employer.
In her recent novels, all set in Maine, and all with protagonists who have ties to Canada, Linda Hall uses different central characters each time. But those characters have a common moral code and concern about the fate of present-day Protestant Christianity which provides a consistency of tone and purpose and makes these books feel like a series, with a common structure in which the suspense/mysteries unfold. The first two of these novels, Margaret's Peace and Island of Refuge worked very well. But this one rises to a new height, delicately interweaving tales of three generations, bringing nearly a dozen characters to life -- some directly and some from hearsay and fragmentary evidence -- with just enough well-timed revelation to both satisfy expectations and to surprise. She deserves a much wider audience. Enjoy.
Other book reviews by Richard Seltzer
Published by B&R Samizdat Express, PO Box 320-161, West Roxbury, MA 02132-002. 617-469-2269 seltzer@samizdat.com
Opus authors -- contemporary
writers whose entire work is great
The Readers' Corner
and Writers Showcase
Return to B&R Samizdat Express
Sitemap with links to
every page at this site.
American Literature CD
-- over 380 books on a single CD that sells for $29
World Literature
CD -- over 470 books, including both English translations and originals,
when available, on a single CD that sells for $29
British Literature
CD -- over 720 books on a single CD that sells for $29.
Children's Book CD --
over 200 books on a single CD that sells for $29
List of recent updates
to other book CDs from Seedy Press.
| Internet Business Showcase: | |||
Dog Training and Pet Care Veterinary, Dog/Cat Veterinarians |
Viatical Settlements RFID Tags, RFID Readers Link Popularity & Link Exchanges |
Hair Restoration for Hair Loss Hair Restoration Plastic Surgery & Surgeons |
Used Cars Guide Homecoming & Prom Dresses Dropship & Wholesale Sources |