Patti's Book Nook

REVIEW: DESCENT BY TIM JOHNSTON

Published January 6, 2015 by Algonquin Books. 376 pages

What great luck! My first blog post is also my favorite book of 2015 so far!

*I listened to this on Audiobook from Audible and the experience was amazing. There is a female and male narrator, but the male narrator (R.C Bray) stole the show. His deep, rich voice was perfect for reflecting hope and despair, and scary in it's power to demonstrate barely veiled rage*

SUMMARY:
Do not be fooled by the description on the back. This is not your average "Girl Goes Missing" story. This was a chilling, whip-smart family psychological drama that was filled with suspense.

The Courtlands are on family vacation in the Rockies with their 15 year old son Shawn ("Dudley") and their 18 year old daughter Caitlin- who will be attending college on a track scholarship in the fall. One morning shortly after arrival, Caitlin hits the mountain trails for a long morning run, while her brother bikes along behind her. The book then switches to the parents (Angela and Grant) back in the hotel room. A phone call is received from the sheriff stating that they need to come to the Emergency Room because Shawn has been badly hurt in an accident. When the inevitable question arises about the girl, the response is "What girl?" Thus begins a broken family's search in the vast mountains, and the unraveling of their lives as they are forced to continue living with no closure.

WRITING:
Johnston is a descriptive writer, taking the reader on a journey of the landscapes of Colorado, Wisconsin, and New Mexico. The emotional toll on the family is told in great detail. There are scenes in this book that reminded me of the TV show Justified starring Timothy Olyphant. Not in terms of dialogue- the show has such clever banter that is fun to watch, but not realistic in how most people have conversations. The tone of the show matched this novel- the brooding characters in a darkly lit, harsh bar environment, and mannerisms of the lawmen. The dialogue and writing fit each and every scenario.

PLOT:
While this plot is not new to the mystery/suspense genre, Johnston chose a unique perspective. Most of the point of view was of the male family members, thus highlighting the father/son relationship. The mom is devastated in her powerful sections, but she is not one of the main focal points.

CHARACTERS: Exceptional. They were well-developed and a couple surprised me in shocking ways. There was irony and growth in almost all of them, and I have vivid pictures in my mind of what each would look like. Each person served a vital role in the story, and no one was a simple page filler.

PACING: At times it seemed slow, especially toward the end when I was so gripped that I felt I couldn't wait one second longer to figure out the conclusion. However, I can't knock the author for this as each chapter was a puzzle piece that required proper placement to bring it to a powerful conclusion.

FINAL RATING:
I was heavily invested in this book and give it a wholehearted 5 stars. The story was exceptional from beginning to end and I want to push it into many reader's hands. The story is a difficult one, so save it for a time when you can be mentally engrossed in it. If you have experienced recent loss or a similar traumatic situation, this might not be for you. Otherwise, this is storytelling at it's best. Descent is not to be missed!