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A review by jaxyway
Die Schwere des Blutes by Laura McHugh
4.0
Posted on my blog, www.bibliobrat.com
Please note: I received a free copy of this novel courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher, Random House, in exchange for my honest review.
The Weight of Blood is a novel about two girls, Lila and Cheri, that disappear a generation apart, in the same small town in the Ozarks of Missouri. The story is told largely in the narrative of Lila (before her disappearance), and Lila’s daughter, Lucy, who was friends with Cheri. Lucy inadvertently stumbles upon a clue that may help her find out about her friend, and it isn’t long before she suspects both disappearances may be related.
The Weight of Blood is a powerful and haunting literary thriller that tests the very limits of family loyalty, or the weight of blood, so to speak. The Ozark landscape is absolutely perfect, and I am typically not a fan of small town mysteries. Before reading this book, I knew almost nothing about the customs and way of life for those living in the Ozarks, and truth be told, I felt transported to this very different world. Only a masterful writer can transport you to places you’ve never been and would never want to go to. Especially now. Travel agent, Laura McHugh is not.
The characters were all wonderfully developed, with unique voices. I absolutely loved Lila’s story from the beginning, with its creepy sense of dread throughout.
Unfortunately, the ending felt a bit rushed to me, although I think this was the author’s intent; she clearly wants the reader to draw their own conclusion about something, and I wasn’t fully satisfied with that. Despite the end, though, The Weight of Blood was a great read, and highly recommended.
It should be noted that this is Laura McHugh’s literary debut, and that excites me more than anything. Once she hones her skills, which are already well-developed, she could be a master of this genre.
Please note: I received a free copy of this novel courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher, Random House, in exchange for my honest review.
The Weight of Blood is a novel about two girls, Lila and Cheri, that disappear a generation apart, in the same small town in the Ozarks of Missouri. The story is told largely in the narrative of Lila (before her disappearance), and Lila’s daughter, Lucy, who was friends with Cheri. Lucy inadvertently stumbles upon a clue that may help her find out about her friend, and it isn’t long before she suspects both disappearances may be related.
The Weight of Blood is a powerful and haunting literary thriller that tests the very limits of family loyalty, or the weight of blood, so to speak. The Ozark landscape is absolutely perfect, and I am typically not a fan of small town mysteries. Before reading this book, I knew almost nothing about the customs and way of life for those living in the Ozarks, and truth be told, I felt transported to this very different world. Only a masterful writer can transport you to places you’ve never been and would never want to go to. Especially now. Travel agent, Laura McHugh is not.
The characters were all wonderfully developed, with unique voices. I absolutely loved Lila’s story from the beginning, with its creepy sense of dread throughout.
Unfortunately, the ending felt a bit rushed to me, although I think this was the author’s intent; she clearly wants the reader to draw their own conclusion about something, and I wasn’t fully satisfied with that. Despite the end, though, The Weight of Blood was a great read, and highly recommended.
It should be noted that this is Laura McHugh’s literary debut, and that excites me more than anything. Once she hones her skills, which are already well-developed, she could be a master of this genre.