Virginia Hartman

Loni Murrow has escaped her childhood existence in the humid swamp/marshlands of Florida to work as a bird portraitist at The Smithsonian in Washington DC. She is called back home to attend to her mother who has developed dementia. Her return unlocks secrets about her father who she thought committed suicide when she was twelve years old as well as her arduous relationship with her mother.

Beautifully written and exquisitely detailed, the mystery is slow to unravel and there are a few different story lines. The descriptions of Loni’s canoe trips along the mangroves in search of a purple gallinule were so vivid, I felt I was there with her seeing the glorious flora and fauna of the area. Her characterizations of some of the locals were equally striking. I especially liked the man with the “barbecue belly”!

This is not an edge of your seat thriller. Read it not so much for the suspense, but rather for the eloquent depictions that transport you to the unique and primeval marshlands of Florida.… (mais)

When Loni Mae Murrow finds out her mother's health is quickly declining, she goes back home to help her brother take care of her. She plans to stay for just a couple weeks, until she finds a mysterious note among her mother's belongings.

"There are some things I have to tell you about Boyd's death."

Her father, long dead from a presumed suicide, is the subject of this note. What could it mean? Was his death more than a suicide? All while battling her mother's long-time coldness, working on projects for work, and a love interest that she isn't sure she wants to pursue, Loni must put together the pieces of her father's death. This means lots of dead ends from people who don't want to bring up the past. When intimidation attempts to get her off the trail become serious, Loni must decide whether the truth is worth uncovering....

Before I begin, this is a slow paced thriller. If you're looking for an adrenaline filled, fast paced suspense, this is not it. That being said, I felt small parts of this book dragged due to this. The larger part, though, was enjoyable. I specifically enjoyed how Hartman wrote about Loni's past in a way that was almost poetic. The strained family relationships felt extremely real to me. Hartman's descriptions of Florida's marshes and wildlife were beautiful, making me nearly smell and see these sights while reading. Her writing style is wonderful! Also, the plot twist and suspense at the end had me totally hooked. I was really invested in seeing how this all ended up. Add in a sweet romance? Winner! Overall, I thoroughly liked reading this novel. I would recommend it to everyone who is in search of a cozy, well written, slow paced thriller.

Content Warning: Mild use of language, non-graphic death of unborn child, mention of suicide and other crime-thriller related deaths… (mais)