Beryl W. reviewed on 6/10/2010 + 44 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

Harper Montgomery, small town man has lived in Two Rivers all his life. He and Betsy his wife, long time sweehearts married in their twenties and were expecting their first child when she died. The daughter survived and he has raised her with the help of some family members. There is also a mystery under the surface that involves Harper, Beener and Ray his high school friends. This secret holds much guilt and anxiety for the three of them. When the story begins, a train derails in Two Rivers and one of the survivors, a pregnant fifteen year old girl seeks out Harper and needs a place to stay. Dispite his misgivings, he does take her in. There is more to this "chance" request than meets the eye.
The story is told in current time and flashbacks, until slowly we are allowed to see exactly how his wife died and how the mystery of the long ago brutal crime between the three friends fits into the story. Also, why the appearance of the pregnant girl is not random.
I felt the story was rather slow and plodding but I did want to find out how it all pulled together in the end. Harper was a frustrating character and much of the story was depressing. It did look in the end like everything had been resolved and his life would move forward from there, yet it didn't satisfy. I would not go out of my way to recommend this book.

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