Saturday, May 16, 2015

Orient by Christopher Bollen


He's a young man trying to find his future.  He was given up for adoption, has been in foster homes, and he's hoping the east side of the states can show him more than the west side did.  When he has an opportunity to stay at the family home in Orient with Paul and work for his room and board, it sounds like a deal to good to be true.  It was...

Harper sent me an ARC of this book to read for review (thank you).  It is being published this month, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

He has an adopted name, has been on the run, and isn't sure just what Paul wants.  Since he's found that he himself has a preference for me, that's not what troubles him.  Or at least it's not the most important thing.  Paul seems to be a calming influence on him and supports him when murders suddenly come to light and the cops are on his case.  After all, he's the only stranger on the island area and no one knows him.  Being innocent is no good if you can't prove it.

Mills find an unlikely alliance with Beth, a pregnant neighbor.  She doesn't think he's a murderer and is willing to be his mode of transportation as well as a brainstorming partner.

None of the relationships in the Orient area are stable.  I've never seen such a bunch of dysfunctional folks in my life.  Some, but not the whole community!  When you take the mix of people and add in idiosyncrasies of some, it turns into a real circus.

This is a long book.  Almost too long.  But I read it in two days and never got the least bit bored.  Mr. Bollen keeps the story rolling along and keeps scaring me as characters die.  The ending is surprising and most fitting.  No one who lives in the island community comes out unscathed.  I'll be thinking about this one for a while.

No comments:

Drag and Rex Forever Friends by Susan Lubner

Meet Drag and Rex, the sweet, silly best friends who find joy and adventure in the simplest places in this charming and cheery modern Frog a...