January 26, 2021
Edelweiss
Harper Collins
William Morrow
Arc, digital, fiction, contemporary women
416 pages
ISBN: 9780062906625
2/6/2021-2/9/2021
I received the digital copy of this book from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange with review.
The story begins with a narrator who seems to be the “victim” of what Archie did to him. He writes his “story” in a sequence of letters at the encouragement of Dan Collier who we eventually discover is an attorney who works for a Restorative Justice Project. The program serves as a mediation for joining victims with offenders in an effort to provide a resolution for both parties. The story alternates between these letters and the story which eventually ties into the letters.
The story explains Archie who is a 19 year old who grew up with a “weirdo” mother. He didn’t know his father who was never around but misses his grandfather, Brookie, who mostly raised him. He learned to read and write, played football and learned to take care of himself. Unfortunately, his life changed when his grandfather died, he was left living with an unfit mother and was forced to worked for BJ who would beat his mother.
Marcus Huxley-Browne was an influential man who was very cruel to his wife who is aware of his illegal business practices but threatened into silence. Eventually, he was arrested prompting her to escape with her daughter and mother to a secret location. Although, how safe can anyone feel when hiding from such dangerous people?
They change their names and attempt to resume a “normal” life. Rebecca changes her name to Claudia Winters who is a 36 year old widower whose husband Joel died. She is taking her daughter Cara who now becomes Jasmine and an experienced violin player. They live with Marcy Llewelyn who becomes the mother of “Claudia”.
Even though several months have passed since they left their old lives behind them, they are aware that people are still looking for them. The police were digging up the yard at the Kensington house and who knows what they will discover. They lived in fear given the criminal activity of Marcus and his sister Eugena who managed to elude conviction. Through some complicated connections their safety is eventually exploited.
Where does the Restorative Justice Project fit into this equation? Do people have the ability to change if given a second chance? Are people products of their environment, resorting to crime for survival? Is forgiveness possible after someone experiences the unspeakable of offenses? Does it take courage to do the right thing or is it more complicated?
https://www.edelweiss.plus/?sku=0062906623&g=4400
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/4231478036
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3793604039
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/4231478036
No comments:
Post a Comment