"Road Longer Than Memory", by Melanie McCabe

First, I must admit this is the best first-person narrative I read in a long time. Not only did Melanie McCabe penned a very gripping mystery that delved into the complexities of memory, guilt and the cost of suppressing feelings she did so with aplomb.

Set against the backdrop of suburban 1970s and 80

“Road Longer Than memory” is the story of Sara Barlow returning home in Arlington, Virginia after her love life fell apart and her teaching career tanked. Applying for a teaching job at her old high school would be her next move…when roaming the grounds she unexpectedly spotted a man she suspected to be involved in a classmate’s murder decades earlier….Her life will change for ever…

The slow-burning dual timelines advances through Sara past memories about her family, her sister’s fatal car crash, her secret summer with Devlin Barrie, the anonymous call to 911 made after witnessing what she believed was a murder….and the discovery of Nina’s body. The story forges ahead through rumours that are tough to prove, fleshed out via hearsay and presumptions.

I love this story for its atmospheric tension and the way it weaves past and present. What won my heart is the most engaging narrative and how well-written it is delivered.

Well said and well-done

My thanks to Oceanview Publishing for this ARC