Scan barcode
A review by richardrbecker
A Cat's Cradle by Carly Rheilan
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A Cat's Cradle authentically explores a child's innate need for acceptance, tendency to misconstrue love, and blindness in the face of betrayal. But what makes the book as remarkable as it is disturbing is how Rheilan delicately blurs the boundaries between victim and villain.
At its heart, A Cat's Cradle is the story of a nearly invisible child growing up in a single-parent household. Mary Crouch, one of four children, is arguably the most neglected as her brothers lean on each other while excluding her outright. Despite her isolation, Mary proves to be exceptionally caring when she attempts to care for a cat that her brothers carelessly wound.
In doing so, she meets a fellow outcast. Ralph is a 31-year-old man who has served 14 years in prison for killing a girl in the same village. After being released, he returns home but is reluctant to live with his mother since nobody is willing to forgive him for what might have been an accidental death.
The two form an immediate bond, which takes on a sinister tone as Ralph swears Mary to secrecy. From this moment forward, it doesn't take long to draw what might be parallels to his dark past. Here, Rhelain slowly checks off all the warning signs as Ralph gains Mary's trust and creates more opportunities for them to be alone together. But what stands out in the telling is it isn't always calculated but rather something subconscious that drives Ralph's dark motivations, as well as Mary's need to justify even the most heinous actions of her only friend.
A Cat's Cradle is a triumph as a psychological thriller that accurately portrays the complexities of a heart-wrenching subject. Likewise, Rhealain delivers a masterstroke with an ending that leaves any wounds we might feel as readers raw and wide open.
At its heart, A Cat's Cradle is the story of a nearly invisible child growing up in a single-parent household. Mary Crouch, one of four children, is arguably the most neglected as her brothers lean on each other while excluding her outright. Despite her isolation, Mary proves to be exceptionally caring when she attempts to care for a cat that her brothers carelessly wound.
In doing so, she meets a fellow outcast. Ralph is a 31-year-old man who has served 14 years in prison for killing a girl in the same village. After being released, he returns home but is reluctant to live with his mother since nobody is willing to forgive him for what might have been an accidental death.
The two form an immediate bond, which takes on a sinister tone as Ralph swears Mary to secrecy. From this moment forward, it doesn't take long to draw what might be parallels to his dark past. Here, Rhelain slowly checks off all the warning signs as Ralph gains Mary's trust and creates more opportunities for them to be alone together. But what stands out in the telling is it isn't always calculated but rather something subconscious that drives Ralph's dark motivations, as well as Mary's need to justify even the most heinous actions of her only friend.
A Cat's Cradle is a triumph as a psychological thriller that accurately portrays the complexities of a heart-wrenching subject. Likewise, Rhealain delivers a masterstroke with an ending that leaves any wounds we might feel as readers raw and wide open.