romonko 's review for:

The Observer by Marina Endicott

4.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I enjoyed this book very much. I thought Ms. Endicott captured the pathos and the angst of serving RCMP officers in rural Alberta.  I live in rural Alberta and see this with our own officers.  I have never been convinced that they are offered enough help to deal with the carnage they see everyday.  I never examined this from the wife and family point of view before until our neighbour lost a son-in-law in Mayerthorpe in March of 2005.  That brought the whole issue to the fore with our neighbourhood.  I thought that Ms. Endicott did a fine job with her fictionalized version.  I was impressed with the way she pieced the haunting details into a quietly devastating revelation of the way it really is while trying to justify life and law in rural communities. The toll it takes on families is real and I don’t know what we’d do without our serving officers.