A captivating piece of historical fiction…
Forde merges human drama and historical intrigue in her compelling latest novel. Rose Dowd is getting on in year. Her youngest son Vince helps her with her daily chores. But when her memory begins to decline, Rose knows she must face the demons of her traumatic past and make peace with her estranged sister Izzy. Using a third-person omniscient narration voice, Forde structures the plot with plenty of satisfying twists, and she gives her characters complexity, rendered in well-crafted prose. Although the narrative touches on complex topics, such as familial ties, trust, betrayal, aspirations and failures, most of the story focuses on the intense relationships among people trying to make sense of a world turned upside down. Human connection, especially, is at the center of the book. The pacing is measured, the storyline is intriguing, and Forde avoids the familiar melodrama and sentimentality to which a lesser writer might succumb. A gem of a novel.
The Quarryman’s Girl: A Novel
Melanie Forde
Mountain Lake Press
Pub date August 29, 2022
ISBN 978-1959307013
Price $24.95 (USD) Hardcover, $19.95 Paperback, $0.00 Kindle edition
