February 1, 2025
Following the murder of a child he tutored, Henry Dees flees Tower Hill, Indiana, for Mt. Gilead, Illinois, in 1972, attempting to escape his grief and shame, and linking the two towns forever. Gossip festers with the sudden departure and new arrival of this strange man, but an unlikely friendship with Mt. Gilead spinster Edith Green gives Henry hope of finally belonging. As their relationship deepens, the plot thickens as to the Tower Hill child's murder and what Henry is not telling authorities. Via multiple points of view, Martin's follow-up to his Pulitzer Prize finalist, The Bright Forever (2005), casts an in-depth picture of both towns and their inhabitants. Unsettling yet compelling, the story is driven by themes of gossip, shame, and loneliness. While the main characters are often unlikable, readers will find a progressively deeper understanding of and compassion for them. Chapters written from the point of view of the townspeople add interest and depth, contributing to an overall engrossing reading experience for fans of noir literary mysteries.
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