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aperfectmjk 's review for:
Grist Mill Road
by Christopher J. Yates
There's a lesson to be learned here, labels are for soup cans!
I kept seeing reviews for this novel from others on Goodreads, and I had added it to my TBR list. I saw that it was on NetGalley, and I wanted to request it, but I also saw that it had a publication date in January, which made me second guess my decision to request it. I just had so many other titles with a January publication date that I didn't want to add another. BUT, as a few more weeks went by, the desire to read it grew, and after taking another look at NetGalley I saw that it was now listed as a "Read Now" selection, and I thought, heck with it, I'm going for it! I knew that with only two days shy of the publication date that I wasn't going to get it finished in time, but I simply didn't want to miss out. I have to say, I'm very glad I took the risk. This novel is slowly and cleverly crafted. It's a delicate story and one I feel that has a powerful message.
At the start of the novel, we learn of a senseless crime involving, Hannah, Patrick (Patch), and Matthew. Hannah is tied to a tree and shot repeatedly with a Red Ryder BB Gun by Matthew, with the last shot tragically causing her to lose her left eye. All the while, Patrick sits by and watches and does nothing to stop it. Matthew decides he wants to leave her there for the vultures, but Patrick cannot live with this decision, it's here that Patrick finally decides to step up and come to Hannah's aide. Matthew eventually serves time for what he has done, but Patrick, he is not named as an accomplice. Patrick is unsure of why? Is it because he didn't leave Hannah there to die?
Fast forward, twenty-six years later, and Hannah and Patrick are now married. Slowly, the story of what happened on August 18, 1982 begins to unfold, and the events that led up to that day. It's here that Christopher J. Yates creates such robust characters. Carefully letting us inside the mind of each, Patrick, Hannah, and Matthew, understanding what impacted their decisions before and after the events of August 18, 1982. It's clear, that none of them, have completely recovered, while some appear more successful than others, deep within, their guilt and secrets are slowly eating away at them. It's only a matter of time before the guilt takes over and someone snaps.
"Because now it seems to me I have the chance to write my own ending. Now I can truly become the hero of the piece. Only this time around, I can make it the truth."
One thing that I really enjoyed was the narration of this novel. I simply loved how this story was told. Perhaps it's not completely original, but I thought it was perfect for this storyline. I loved how it was a confession of sorts for each, Patrick, Hannah, and Matthew. Each finally unburdening themselves of what took place feeling the shame, the guilt, the torment, somewhat easing, though never fully feeling absolved. It really allowed you to connect to the story and the characters. To get a true sense of the pain of each, and by the end, you realize that all are victims of some jaded upbringing. What's really tragic, is even into adulthood, all three are so vulnerable and unfledged after having been burdened all those years. It's as if they are forever stuck in the past.
One last thing I will mention, a pet peeve of mine. To be honest, I am not familiar with Christopher J. Yates as a author, I have not read his previous work, and I'm not familiar with his biography. Now, in reading this novel, I never would have guessed he was from the UK, that is, until his use of the word "notes" when referring to currency. In America, we don't use the word "notes" when paying for our meals or merchandise, so when I read this in a novel that is set in America from a UK author, it just irks me. This by no means affects the overall read of the book, but it's something to take note of if you're going to write novels set in America if you're in the UK.
I want to thank NetGalley, Macmillian-Picador, and Christopher J. Yates, for allowing me the chance to read this novel in exchange for my review! It was a great read!
I kept seeing reviews for this novel from others on Goodreads, and I had added it to my TBR list. I saw that it was on NetGalley, and I wanted to request it, but I also saw that it had a publication date in January, which made me second guess my decision to request it. I just had so many other titles with a January publication date that I didn't want to add another. BUT, as a few more weeks went by, the desire to read it grew, and after taking another look at NetGalley I saw that it was now listed as a "Read Now" selection, and I thought, heck with it, I'm going for it! I knew that with only two days shy of the publication date that I wasn't going to get it finished in time, but I simply didn't want to miss out. I have to say, I'm very glad I took the risk. This novel is slowly and cleverly crafted. It's a delicate story and one I feel that has a powerful message.
At the start of the novel, we learn of a senseless crime involving, Hannah, Patrick (Patch), and Matthew. Hannah is tied to a tree and shot repeatedly with a Red Ryder BB Gun by Matthew, with the last shot tragically causing her to lose her left eye. All the while, Patrick sits by and watches and does nothing to stop it. Matthew decides he wants to leave her there for the vultures, but Patrick cannot live with this decision, it's here that Patrick finally decides to step up and come to Hannah's aide. Matthew eventually serves time for what he has done, but Patrick, he is not named as an accomplice. Patrick is unsure of why? Is it because he didn't leave Hannah there to die?
Fast forward, twenty-six years later, and Hannah and Patrick are now married. Slowly, the story of what happened on August 18, 1982 begins to unfold, and the events that led up to that day. It's here that Christopher J. Yates creates such robust characters. Carefully letting us inside the mind of each, Patrick, Hannah, and Matthew, understanding what impacted their decisions before and after the events of August 18, 1982. It's clear, that none of them, have completely recovered, while some appear more successful than others, deep within, their guilt and secrets are slowly eating away at them. It's only a matter of time before the guilt takes over and someone snaps.
"Because now it seems to me I have the chance to write my own ending. Now I can truly become the hero of the piece. Only this time around, I can make it the truth."
One thing that I really enjoyed was the narration of this novel. I simply loved how this story was told. Perhaps it's not completely original, but I thought it was perfect for this storyline. I loved how it was a confession of sorts for each, Patrick, Hannah, and Matthew. Each finally unburdening themselves of what took place feeling the shame, the guilt, the torment, somewhat easing, though never fully feeling absolved. It really allowed you to connect to the story and the characters. To get a true sense of the pain of each, and by the end, you realize that all are victims of some jaded upbringing. What's really tragic, is even into adulthood, all three are so vulnerable and unfledged after having been burdened all those years. It's as if they are forever stuck in the past.
One last thing I will mention, a pet peeve of mine. To be honest, I am not familiar with Christopher J. Yates as a author, I have not read his previous work, and I'm not familiar with his biography. Now, in reading this novel, I never would have guessed he was from the UK, that is, until his use of the word "notes" when referring to currency. In America, we don't use the word "notes" when paying for our meals or merchandise, so when I read this in a novel that is set in America from a UK author, it just irks me. This by no means affects the overall read of the book, but it's something to take note of if you're going to write novels set in America if you're in the UK.
I want to thank NetGalley, Macmillian-Picador, and Christopher J. Yates, for allowing me the chance to read this novel in exchange for my review! It was a great read!