this must be the place by Kate Racculia: Book Review

 

Sites of Interest: Author's Site | Buy the Book

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co. | Published: July 6, 2010

  368 pages | ISBN: 978-0805092301

Source: Publisher

            ‘Mona, I’m sorry. I should have told you.  You knew me better than anyone—I think you knew me better than me. Don’t worry; I swear I’m happier dead. Anyway, I left you the best parts of myself; you know where to look—Amy.’ These are the words written on an Ocean City postcard--stored in a dusty, old pink shoebox—in the back of a closet—of a dead woman. The day of her death, the postcard is found by none other than her husband Arthur Rook. A distraught and confused Arthur immediately picks up and leaves with a suitcase and Amy’s cat, Harryhausen, searching for the answers of Amy’s past. He finds himself in the sleepy town of Ruby Falls, New York in a boarding house owned by Mona Jones herself; the mysterious woman that his wife never mentioned before. As he meets Mona’s daughter Oneida (who is not named after a spoon) and the various odd tenants of the house, he searches for a scrap of Amy and her past in the dusty old house.

            The story twists and turns between the perspectives of a broken Arthur, curious Oneida, cautious Mona, and Wendy a determined classmate of Oneida’s. As Arthur discovers his wife’s dark past he realizes that he really never knew her. He learns that even though Ruby Falls seems like a nice vacation from his real life, it is anything but. Ruby Falls holds secrets that hide beneath a cheery and average exterior. Who is Wendy Wendell—school bully, or insightful genius? Oneida Jones—bushy haired freak, or a mysterious enigma that even she doesn’t know parts of yet? Arthur Rook—quiet photographer—or silent detective? As the story proceeds you are left with more questions than answers. You can’t decide if you love or hate Amy Rook? Who is Oneida’s father and why won’t her Mother share her secrets? And is Oneida really named after a spoon?

            As you delve deeper into the mysteries of Ruby Falls, you realize that surface value means absolutely nothing in this story. Small towns hold more secrets than even the residents know, first impressions of characters are NEVER what they seem, and sometimes life really is like a movie. You will be swept up in a whirlwind of lies, loss and love in this thrilling first novel by Kate Racculia. And I assure you….you won’t be able to put it down.

-Melony