Bell Weather: A Novel
Dennis Mahoney’s first novel Fellow Mortals was published to fantastic reviews, named to Booklist’s “Top First Novel” list of 2013 and was a Barnes and Noble Discover New Writers selection. While Fellow Mortals was literary fiction, Mahoney assimilates into the world of magical realism, infusing his 18th-century fantastical world (called Floria) with a heaping of historical fiction. And he does so to great effect.
Much like Jim Carrey’s character washing up ashore in Lawson, CA with amnesia in The Majestic, Bell Weather begins with protagonist, and the settlement of Root’s tavern keeper, Tom Orange, finding an amnesiac woman, going in and out of consciousness, by the river. As Tom takes her to the town doctor, it comes to light that she recently gave birth. Outside of that, there isn’t much known of the stranger—Molly, she’s called. However, as Bell Weather progresses, the secrets of Molly’s past come tumbling out.
Bell Weather isn’t for all readers, but the world Mahoney has created—akin to Marquez’ Macondo, with a dash of Ron Rash’s The Cove, painted in Colonial hue—is undeniably alive and animated, thanks to Mahoney’s lush imagery. The main characters Tom and Molly have palpable chemistry, and they’re certainly intriguing enough to keep the story going through its near-400-page total. No small feat, there.
If you’re looking to escape the real world for a little while, fully immersed in a fantastical mystery, Bell Weather might be right for you.
Author | Dennis Mahoney |
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Star Count | 3/5 |
Format | Hard |
Page Count | 400 pages |
Publisher | Henry Holt |
Publish Date | 2015-Jul-07 |
ISBN | 9781627792677 |
Amazon | Buy this Book |
Issue | November 2015 |
Category | Science Fiction & Fantasy |
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