2024 Book Review #6: My Darling Girl

 

This author isn't new to me...she's one I enjoy...so when I saw this on our town library's "new books" shelf, I just had to get it out!  So glad I did.  The one I read before and reviewed on here, if you're interested, is found here.  It was excellent. I also read this one which didn't really appeal to me. 

STORY SUMMARY

Mark and Alison O'Connor have a "picture-perfect" family life in a small town in Vermont. They have 2 daughters:  Izzy (Isabella) who is 16 and into all things Goth; and Olivia who is 6 years old and into all things pink, purple, and ballet.  Izzy tends to be rebellious as many teens are and currently has a girlfriend named Theo after just breaking up with her boyfriend of 2 years, Noah.  Olivia tends to be somewhat precocious. The entire family is busy putting up holiday decorations for Christmas, when Alison gets a phone call. 

Her estranged mother Mavis, has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and only has a few weeks to live. Her personal assistant, Paul, who has lived in a carriage house on her property in Woodstock, NY for years, has told Alison that Mavis is requesting to spend her last weeks with Alison and her family.  

Alison, along with her older brother Ben (now living and working in California) were victims of their mother's alcoholism and emotional/physical abuse.  Ben wants absolutely nothing to do with his mother ever again, which is one reason he moved to the west coast.  Alison really doesn't want to re-live the trauma of her childhood memories, but she hesitatingly consents to Mavis's last request. She thinks that maybe they can both heal and have the mother-daughter relationship Alison has always dreamed of. 

But....once Mavis moves into the house, a week goes by and then Paul is killed in a tragic car accident...and Mavis seems to have predicted it! Then other mysterious, terrifying things start to happen and Alison begins to wonder if something much more sinister than her mother's cruelty is at play.  As her mother's  final days spiral into nightmarish realities, Alison has to decide just how far she's willing to go to protect her family.  And how is this stone, found in Mexico all those years ago, by Mavis and her best friend Bobbi, related? why is Mavis so obsessed with the stone that is shaped like a human heart? 

MY THOUGHTS

Wow...so this is one fast-paced thriller of a mystery. Lots of drama and suspense in this story. 

The character and setting development are spot on.  Each character is someone I felt like I could get to know.  I loved Alison and felt so bad for her. Her husband Mark is a gem of a dad and  husband and all around good guy who is very concerned about things his wife is dealing with. Izzy has her charming moments but there's always an element of darkness around her. (you'll see why in the end!!).  Olivia can be a cute little 1st grader who often got on my nerves for her hyperactivity and constant questions. But she's a sweetheart, too. 

And then Mavis.  This woman is someone whom I thought at first was going to be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease along with her cancer.  Then as we learn more of Alison's childhood and her mother's  background and obsession with her best friend Bobbi..and we learn the truth of the relationship between Mavis and Bobbi, I started to think she had undiagnosed Multiple Personality Disorder or possibly Schizophrenia.  It's none of those things we soon find out, about half way through the novel. 

The author  does a great job in building up the suspense between the mother-daughter relationships going on in this book....and the weird forces connected to the  human heart -shaped stone. The symbolism in this artifact is quite impressive for a contemporary fiction/mystery novel. 

The author clearly has done her research regarding demons; however, sadly, the whole binding thing is not effective in dealing with real demons, is it? As Christ followers we know that the only way to banish demons/Satan is through the blood of Jesus Christ...by speaking the name of Jesus over the person who might be dealing with a demon.  I found this interesting too, because this topic has come up in conversation recently with a couple of friends. 

At any rate, on a purely secular level, the whole binding scene is powerful and free-ing for Alison....until....we find out just what really happens in the end. 

Is it somewhat unbelievable? Of course....it's fiction!  It's fiction that is quite good and I love this new story from the author. 

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for  ages 14 and older (although there are a couple of scenes that involve smoking a joint and some mature content on a dark spiritual level). 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 9.