Starred review from October 25, 2021
The death from hypothermia of an adopted Ethiopian girl, Abeba "Abigail" Addisu, while in the care of her Christian fundamentalist parents, Betsy and Delvin Harvey, drives this outstanding literary thriller from PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction winner Guterson (Snow Falling on Cedars). Betsy and Delvin, who live in rural Skagit Country north of Seattle, are arrested on homicide charges, and Betsy is put on trial for murder. On a break from fiction writing, the unnamed narrator accompanies his elderly criminal attorney father, Royal, who has agreed to defend Betsy, for the pretrial interview of Betsy. When Royal dies before the final verdict, his son picks up the loose ends of his father's life while continuing to follow the case, which exposes the cruel conditions in which Abeba suffered. The narration is the novel's main draw. Equal parts philosophical, humane, and self-deprecating, it powerfully speaks to the ineffable contradiction of living a meaningful life. Guterson sensitively explores religion, white privilege, and justice while examining with realism and empathy the bond between parents and their children. With its simple message of hope, this novel will linger with readers long after the final page. Agent: Georges Borchardt, Georges Borchardt, Inc.
March 1, 2022
Guterson's (Snow Falling on Cedars) latest is marked by lyrical prose, exquisitely crafted descriptions, and pleasing narration. What it isn't is a driving legal drama. Ostensibly, the story is about the final case of an octogenarian criminal attorney. The protagonist, Royal, is asked to take a pro bono case defending the wife of a fundamentalist couple accused of torturing to death Abeba, their adopted Ethiopian daughter. The narrator is Royal's son, an unnamed fiction author. Midway through the trial Royal has a stroke and dies. At that point the novel's focus shifts from the criminal case to the consequences of Royal's death for the narrator. George Newbern's voice is smooth, relaxed, and steady, using various accents where appropriate. The prose is beautiful, albeit sometimes graphic, but there are no highs or lows to the story. Listeners will have a hard time connecting emotionally to any of the characters--not Royal, nor the narrator, nor even the dead child. While the trial does get a resolution, it is almost an afterthought because the two parts of the novel are so disconnected. VERDICT Libraries will want to purchase because of Guterson's reputation, but those expecting a riveting legal case will be disappointed.--Jodi L. Israel
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