A review by wsk56
Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante

4.0

Partly a literary mystery, partly a depiction of Alzheimer's and partly the story of a family, this wonderful first novel by Alice LaPlante succeeds at all of these things. It is a difficult book to read, heartbreaking and poignant, but also impossible to put down. LaPlante has created an intriguing character with Dr. Jennifer White, a retired orthopedic surgeon and Alzheimer's sufferer. Her best friend Amanda has been murdered and Dr. White is a suspect. However, she does not remember anything about the murder and, at times, believes her friend is still alive. Through her sporadic memories, we learn about the history of the Dr. White's family and their friendships with Amanda and her husband Peter. As her dementia worsens, her visions and flashes of memory provide clues to the mysteries surrounding Amanda's murder. The novel is brilliantly constructed and the plot provides structure to the narrative. I will look forward to LaPlante's next project!