Deer season has opened in Gunthrum, Nebraska in 1985 and a girl has gone missing. Peggy was a typical high school girl that snuck out from home for a party on Saturday night, but failed to turn up for her brother’s confirmation Sunday morning. As the family starts to look for her, more mysteries abound. Alma Costagan’s intellectually disabled farm hand, Hal, is like a son to her. Hal shows up early from a weekend of deer hunting with blood in his truck and a dent in his truck. His story doesn’t add up, and soon the small town turns against him. Is Hal guilty and where is Peggy?
I enjoyed this story for
the slow burn mystery and more for the masterful portrait of small-town rural
life and people. I loved the small-town farm
community setting. It reminded me of
where I live now in Wisconsin and where I grew up in Michigan. I also loved the characters. They were all interesting in their unique ways.
The novel is told from Alma and Peggy’s 12-year-old brother Milo’s point of view. The two viewpoints kept the action moving in
the novel. I also loved that this novel really explored families and
relationships. Most of all I loved Alma
Costagan. She’s a woman of a certain age
who tells it like it is to everyone she meets.
She has suffered through great heart ache in her life, but she’s also
found happiness with her husband Clyle and Hal.
I would love to read more about Alma.
Milo’s coming of age story was riveting as well as he grapples with guilt
for knowing that his sister was sneaking out and wondering what happened to
her. What does Milo want from life?
Favorite Quote:
“He wondered if for the
rest of his life he’d think about the time his sister went missing while he
watched it snow.”
Overall, Deer Season is a
wonderful literary mystery with great characters.
Book Source: Review Copy from University of Nebraska Press
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Thank you for the review. The title itself intrigued me because we do not have anything like that here.
ReplyDeleteWhat is it about small towns that make them such great settings for books? Especially a mystery? Love the sound of this one! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for being on this tour! I'm enjoying this one myself. Sara @ TLC Book Tours
ReplyDelete