Grist Mill Road: A Novel

Grist Mill Road is where the story begins in 1982. That summer, everything changes for Patrick, Matthew, and Hannah. A terrible crime is committed, all because of secrets and lies. No one will come away from this unscathed. There will be a lot of collateral damage as well. Flash forward twenty-six years, Patrick and Hannah are married and Matthew is doing well financially. When they meet again, there will be even more tragedy. Sometimes the secrets we keep can have devastating results. This time will be even worse.

This book was definitely different than anything I’ve ever read. I didn’t particularly like it, though. It was very tragic and dark, and there was no way a happy ending was possible. None of the characters were likable or endearing, except for possibly Officer McClusky. The chapters were all over the place, telling the story from different characters’ perspectives but without making it clear who was talking for a couple of pages. This book is also written in the apparently fashionable way of no quotations, making it more difficult to know if the characters were just thinking that way or if they actually said it. I don’t particularly like that style of writing.

I know these dark crime dramas are becoming more popular these days, but I don’t really like them. I’m sure the majority of people will enjoy this story, but not me. Real life is tragic and dark enough as it is. So many crimes go unpunished and unsolved, I like being able to read a mystery and see the opposite occur. Reading for me is like being refreshed, and I feel more discouraged when I read books like this. If you like tragedies and dark crime thrillers, then I think you will like this. It just wasn’t for me.