A review by kuhlreads
The Blackhouse, by Carole Johnstone
slow-paced
3.0
Maggie goes back to the Isle of Kilmeray, where at the age of 5 she causes a big scene with some wild accusations. Now she is investigating her claims by telling the locals she is writing a story. Many of the locals who were there the first time she was there are not happy with her reopening old wounds.
I had a very hard time following the characters. I couldn't remember who some of them were husband, wife, daughter. These chapters are very long. The story is from Maggie's POV but there are chapters that are from Robert's POV years ago. These chapters, although I know they were setting up the story, didn't hold my attention. I didn't have a problem with Maggie, she had a few unresolved issues. But as much as I tried to like Charlie, I had a hard time because it always seemed like he was lying or hiding something. I really didn't care for any of the islanders. For what this book was, I think it was a good story, but a little too long. You really don't find out anything until about 75% of the way through it. It isn't a "happy" ending so much as a resolution of Maggie's feelings towards herself. I didn't feel the epilogue really finished or wrapped up the story. Thank you NetGalley, Scribner and Carole Johnstone.
I had a very hard time following the characters. I couldn't remember who some of them were husband, wife, daughter. These chapters are very long. The story is from Maggie's POV but there are chapters that are from Robert's POV years ago. These chapters, although I know they were setting up the story, didn't hold my attention. I didn't have a problem with Maggie, she had a few unresolved issues. But as much as I tried to like Charlie, I had a hard time because it always seemed like he was lying or hiding something. I really didn't care for any of the islanders. For what this book was, I think it was a good story, but a little too long. You really don't find out anything until about 75% of the way through it. It isn't a "happy" ending so much as a resolution of Maggie's feelings towards herself. I didn't feel the epilogue really finished or wrapped up the story. Thank you NetGalley, Scribner and Carole Johnstone.