This is a heartbreaking page-turner with some amazing characters: the swagger of Duchess, the kind wisdom of Hal, and the vulnerability of Walk are aspects of this novel I will not soon forget. The ending was full of surprises and rounded out the story well. It has the feel of a classic American Western.
I found the writing style a bit hard to get into at first–blunt, choppy, and difficult to follow at times. But I loved the characters, the pacing, the small reveals along the way, and the way it drew me in. Yes there is loss and much sadness in this novel, but that is tempered with bravery, resilience and even some humour. The characters were each on an epic journey in their own way and I was rooting for them!
The author is British, has written a couple of other books (Tall Oaks and All the Wicked Girls), and started writing in the aftermath of a mugging–it helped him process his trauma. I love that he is a successful and award winning author but also still works part-time at a local library.
Here is a Guardian article and a youtube interview about Whitaker’s life, which is so interesting and a journey in itself. Knowing the author’s own story does inform the reading of his books. Click here for Guardian article.
Joanne's Reading Blog 