Sandra Ireland

Once upon a time, Sarah Sutherland dreamed of being an archeologist. Then she met a boy, got pregnant and things got a bit sidetracked. So here she is now - divorced (the ex-husband married a real archeologist), taking care of her father (unlike her, he had his only child when he was older so he is now in his 80s), living alone after her daughter took a gap year and went to Asia, working as a manager in the local superstore and leading witches' walks in her free time.

It is a perfect setup - although it is unclear what for. And that is part of the problem of this novel - it weaves too many stories at the same time and most of the characters come up almost two-dimensional in the process. Add to all of the above two separate crime stories (one in the past and one in the present), an old man's hallucinations and a skeleton (well, part of one) and the novel gets a bit too busy.

Alie Gowdie was sentenced to death as a witch in 1648. Sarah lives in her old house and tells her story during her witch's walk. So when the diary of the man who led the prosecution against her suddenly appears, Sarah jumps at the opportunity to learn more about her story (and not just because it will help her make her walks more appealing and thus win more money). In the meantime, the new cleaner in the store, Mai, appears to have her own issues. The stories that emerge both about Mai and about Alie are both modern and ancient - past and present parallel each other (minus the witches) to the point where one starts wondering if humanity ever changes.

And then there is the personal story. Sarah fires Grant from the store for being irresponsible (well, he technically leaves but...) just to find out that not only she is in love with him but that he is now her father's new caregiver. It is almost too sugary (and the whole romance development was a bit too... cute). So here she is, struggling with her budding feelings for a man who is way too young for her while worrying about her child and her father.

And yet, somehow, the end actually ties the whole mess together. The double narration - by Sarah and by her father John helps by providing details the other may not know and by allowing some ambiguity to trickle in without adding an unreliable narrator. One of the other things which I particularly liked in the novel was the way in which the author led us through the discovery of John's Charles Bonnet Syndrome - an ailment I had never heard of - and the realization of how often it is misdiagnosed and why.

The storyline that really seemed off though was the one around Hannah (the daughter). I suspect that it was left the way it was to allow a sequel to the novel (it is advertised as first in a series) but it does match and Sarah's reactions are just off considering all her other reactions in the novel.

The author's note at the end of the novel mentions that neither Alie, nor the town of Kilgour really exist but they are the sum of every woman (or man) who was called a witch in the 16th and 17th centuries in Scotland and the combination of all the small towns on the east coast of Scotland. When one thinks of witches, it is Salem that usually comes to mind but a lot of people died in the old country as well. And despite the issues I have with the novel as a whole, that aspect works - both the story and the uncovering of the "new" story.

Hopefully if there is a second novel, it will be a bit more even and without slipping into the almost comical in places where it just does not work - adding a lot of cliches at the same time did not help much. I did like the historical part of the novel though and the style of writing is not awful (despite everything) so I may look up some of her older novels.… (mais)

Oh god, this is a tough book to review. I wanted to find out how the story ends but I didn't want to actually read it and kept putting it off. Why? Because of a pretty realistic portrayal of domestic abuse and that's tough to read. It is dark in a desolate, hopeless way (until it isn't and there is a glimmer of hope). It does an excellent job of invoking the deep-in-your-stomach dread and the sense that the situation is outside of your control and nothing will ever change... until it does. Until you do. It's emotional, it's raw, it's realistic. It will make you feel things, but they won't be pleasant.… (mais)

Bone Deep
by Sandra Ireland
2018
Gallery
4.5 / 5.0

A dark, psychological thriller of love, betrayal, sibling rivalry, and murder.
Set in the Scottish town of Fettermore, Arthur convinces his mother, a retired historian living alone in a large estate, to hire a Girl Friday to live in the cottage behind her home. So Max hires Lucie to help her transcribe her collection of folklore, and history of 2 sisters. Lucie is very different from Max, but they get along. As Lucie begins to transcribe Max's story of the 2 sisters, it reminds Lucie of her own secrets. Max has secrets of her own age wants to keep hidden. As these two women circle each other, they are forced to confront their own pasts and fears.
Atmospheric and gothic, this is only Irelands second novel. Tremendous storyteller and building.
#teamslaughter #scarathon #theme @Clwojick… (mais)