When cracking the spine of a Lori Rader-Day book, readers know they are about to embark on an emotional excursion where the precarious path is lit by a compelling central mystery that leads to a destination that is as satisfying as the journey getting there. Her latest literary mystery—The Death of Us—is available this week and it further solidifies Lori Rader-Day’s standing as a writer who is finely-tuned to the nuances of human nature.
Fifteen years ago, Ashley Hay dropped off her infant son, Callan, with Lissette “Liss” Kehoe—the wife of the baby’s father—before vanishing from their lives. But when her car is discovered sunk in the geological quarry on the Kehoe property, old wounds are ripped open and everyone in town wants answers.
In typical Lori Rader-Day style, characterization outperforms plot in The Death of Us. Rader-Day places readers directly into Liss’s shoes, virtually ensuring they are rooting for her from the first page to last. This novel is a deep-dive into the psyche of motherhood and the incredible lengths parents—even when they are not biologically bound—will go to in order to protect their family. Despite the focus being on the characters, especially Liss and Callan, the forward momentum of this narrative never wavers in its ability to keep readers engaged and intrigued.
The local Marshall—Mercer Alarie—has his own complex past with Liss, but also feels duty-bound to fulfill the duties of his position, especially with an upcoming election to think about. It’s not very long before the newly discovered vehicle shifts Ashley’s disappearance to a full-on murder investigation. With everyone in town holding back secrets, the list of suspects continues to grow, and Mercer realizes just how high the stakes really are.
Lori Rader-Day populates the novel with many examples of the parent-child dynamic. This theme becomes clear early in the narrative and becomes the central lynchpin of the proceedings. Every reader has been a child, so the visceral connection feels very real and for those readers who are also parents, the bond with the characters is likely be even stronger. Rader-Day has no illusions or desire to sugarcoat what is almost always a fraught and complex relationship, increasing the verisimilitude on display throughout The Death of Us.
Directly linked to her skill and experience, Lori Rader-Day perfectly executes chapters of varying length that help to control the pacing of The Death of Us. The narrative unspools casually at times before the next unexpected revelation shifts things into a higher gear. By the final confrontation, the pedal is fully pressed to the floor and the chapters are flying by with no chance of stopping until the end. This is a novel which prioritizes realistic characterization, but that should never be interpreted to mean boring. The Death of Us is every bit as gripping as most thrillers, it simply chooses to leverage the reader’s investment in the characters as the fuel by which the acceleration occurs.
At this point in her career, it has become clear that Lori Rader-Day understands her strengths as a writer and knows how to maximize her success by wielding those tools. The Death of Us is one of her best and should not be missed.
BUY LINKS: The Death of Us by Lori Rader-Day
Disclaimer: A print galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the author. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
