4 stars out of 5
How's that for a zingy opener? Of course, if that were all there is to the story, there wouldn't be much need for a book. In fact, there's much more; chapters weave in and out of different time frames in the lives of Ellen Saint, whose almost college-age son Lucas lost his life in an auto accident that involved the aforesaid man (Kieran Watts) on the rooftop. Since then, she and Lucas's father, Vic, have separated, although they're still in contact (in large part through shared grief). Now, she's married to Justin, who has a teenage daughter Freya who lives with them.
For the most part, Justin has adopted the role of sympathetic spouse and Vic has tried to get on with his life; Ellen - always a protective mother, to say the least - wants no part of moving on. She wallows in sorrow and blame, gaining some solace when Kieran went to jail for his part in Lucas's death. But that was before he was released; after that, Ellen's angst and vitriol toward Kieran approaches an entirely new level (which, for the record, was a big turn-off for me).
Readers know from the start how her bitterness translated into action, so needless to say, seeing the man she's sure is Kieran comes as a shock. The rest of the book follows her resolve to take matters into her own hands and looks back at where she is now and how she got there. I must say I wasn't thrilled with the ending, although I think that's in part because I was less than thrilled with Ellen's character. That said, it's an engaging story that made for good reading on a couple of snowed-in days. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a prerelease copy.
The Heights by Louise Candlish (Atria Books, March 2022); 413 pp.
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