Andrée A. Michaud

Trembling River by Andrée A. Michaud, translated by J. C. Sutcliffe is a highly recommended mystery and explores the heartbreaking disappearance of three children.

In August 1979 twelve-year-old Michael disappears in the woods of Trembling River while with his friend Marnie Duchamp. A search only came up with a muddy sneaker. The disappearance of her friend has haunted Marnie ever since it happened. Thirty years later Billie Richards never makes it to her dance class and disappears just before her ninth birthday. Her father Bill, a children's book author, is devastated and falls into a deep inconsolable state of grief and mourning. Neither knows that another child will disappear from the village of Trembling River.

The writing is exquisite and captures the anguish, mourning, guilt, and even anger while Marnie and Bill attempt to somehow comprehend their loss. Marnie constantly questions what she could have done to prevent Michael's disappearance. Bill is despondent and struggles with his mental health. Understandably, he is heartbroken and can't comprehend a life without his beloved daughter.

The structure of the novel is divided into three parts but these parts are written with no chapters. The narrative switches between viewpoints and readers are expected to follow who is speaking. This can be a bit off-putting, especially in the second part when the novel delves into lengthy and very emotional interior monologues from Marnie and Bill. I'm not a fan of protracted stream-of-consciousness passages, so this was a bit of a struggle to get through, although it is highly distressed and heartbreaking. Then, when tragedy strikes again and another child disappears, the mystery and heartbreak deepens.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of House of Anansi Press via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/02/trembling-river.html… (mehr)

This novel opens powerfully, setting the atmosphere, geography and origins of Bondrée and its peaceful, rural surroundings, but leaving an impression of something sinister impending.

The first couple of chapters introduce the characters and the carefree lifestyle of the inhabitants, describing the influx of summer visitors to Boundary pond and the laid-back existence. it’s 1967, the young people tune into the radio and while away their time relaxing, sunbathing and swimming. A carefree and untroubled world where nothing threatens and nothing disturbs the tranquility.
Michaud evokes the dialogue of the characters well - the friendly distance and faint distrust between the locals, of language, customs and sensibilities. Zaza Mulligan and Sissy Morgan epitomise youth in the late 60s, concerned with fashion, music and boys. But this idyl is about to change dramatically.
As I got further into the story I enjoyed the individual ‘voice’ of each of the characters and the contrast between the first and third person narration. I especially related to the young Andrée Duchamp and and her internal monologue on what she saw and felt.
Once the first brutal murder occurs the atmosphere changes immediately. Sissy’s frantic search is very believable and builds the fear and tension in the community and in the reader.
Prior to the murder the lack of a real community rings true. The way the various factions have isolated themselves to their own kind is well observed, but this all changes when people start pulling together to rid the forest of Pete Landry’s ancient hidden bear traps. This is cleverly developed and described.

The character of Stan Michaud and his relationship with his deputy, Jim Cusack is interestingly built up. I started to really care about the characters, especially Michaud and his domestic life, and I began to engage with the emotional life of the individuals: Brian Larue and Emma; Sam and Florence Duchamp and Flo’s ‘third eye’ and nervous twisting of her belt; Gilles and Jocelyne Ménard etc. The tension is building all the time and making this an enjoyable and suspenseful read right to the end.

The climax is unexpected and a nice twist. I didn’t see it coming. A thrilling pace and a thoroughly good read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys crime genre.… (mehr)

Boundary – Andree A Michaud

“During the summer of 1967, a sleepy vacation community on the border of Maine and Quebec is horrified by the murder of two of its teenage girls. When their bodies are discovered in the woods, a detective takes up the case. Told from varying perspectives — including the victim and the murderer himself.”

Set in an idyllic summer getaway setting in Canada during the sixties, the book follows the lives of two girls ZaZa and Sissy and what happens to them during that summer. The story is told from many different characters prospectives the main one being of a younger girl, who longed to be part of the friendship between the two main characters and also a detective who is involved in the case.

I did not find the book very interesting or gripping, it was a struggle to finish the book as it did not hold my interest and I was not really interested what happened to the characters. The tale was rather drawn out and sometimes too descriptive that the story got lost. I did not find that this story had enough suspense and twists and did not really keep you guessing. I did finish this book because I had been sent it to review but I feel that I would not seek out any other books written by this author.… (mehr)