Rating: 4/5
Review:
An enjoyable read
I enjoyed this book. Although the discovery of a body drives the plot, this is really a character study of Peggy, its main protagonist, and a vivid portrait of life in a small Irish town in the mid-1970s.
The story is a simple one: a body, apparently buried 20 years or so ago, is discovered in Crumm, a tiny place in Ireland and a detective from Dublin is sent to investigate. This unearths not only old history – which is very interesting, by the way – but the arrival of the detective provokes emotions and change in the pub which Peggy, the 23-year-old, youngest member of the Casey family runs on behalf of herself and her three siblings. The investigation is really only a minor sub-plot to the main story – that of Peggy, her heart, her ambitions and her family.
It could be dreadful, but it's very well done. Sheena Lambert writes very well in easy, unflashy prose which conveys intense emotion very well. Her insights and character creations are very good, so we really come to feel we know these people and are involved in their lives. The background and sense of place are also very well done, and there is a nicely understated romance which runs through the book.
I didn't think this was quite the fabulous creation that many other reviewers do, but it is very good and an enjoyable rewarding read which I can recommend.
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