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A review by kbranfield
The Distant Dead by Heather Young
4.0
4.5 stars.
The Distant Dead by Heather Young is a captivating mystery that is achingly poignant.
Sixth grader Sal Prentiss goes to live with his off the grid uncles Gideon and Ezra following his mother's death. The lonely land has been in the family for several generations and the Prentiss family has quite the checkered history. Neither uncle is overly affectionate with the grieving boy so when school begins, Sal forms an unexpected friendship with his math teacher, Adam Merkel. Although Merkel is not exactly an animated instructor in the classroom, he completely captures Sal's attention with his mathematic stories while one on one. One morning, on his way to school, Sal makes a grisly discovery when he stumbles across a burned body.
Meanwhile at school, everyone is wondering where Adam is. He has never been late nor has he called in sick. Fellow teacher and friend Nora Wheaton knows something has to be wrong. Unfortunately once word of the burned corpse gets out, she is shocked to discover it is Adam. Her ex-husband Chief Deputy Mason Greer is working the case and he readily answers her questions throughout the investigation. Nora beings asking questions on her own and she uncovers stunning information that might just lead to his killer.
Sal is a bright young man with a creative mind and impressive skill as an artist. His life before his mother's death was lonely yet happy and he greatly mourns her loss. Life with his uncles is sparse and he is often left to his own devices. So when his Uncle Ezra begins paying attention to him, he likes being noticed and included in the family. But Ezra has an ulterior motive for his interest in Sal who reluctantly agrees to his uncle's plan.
Nora is resentful that she had to put her life's plans on hold to care for her father. At the time, she was about to begin her career as an anthropologist. But after returning to Love Lock, she reluctantly accepts a position as a Social Studies teacher. Before Adam's murder, she only pays cursory attention to her students. However, while trying to find out more information about her friend's death, Nora becomes invested in the lonely boy. Despite progress in the case, she becomes certain that Sal is the key to solving the murder.
The Distant Dead is a spellbinding mystery with a slight otherworldly element. Sal is a heart achingly appealing young boy who is intuitive and sympathetic. Nora's bitterness toward her father is understandable and her anger at him is quickly reaching a boiling point. The storyline is multi-faceted and the desolate setting is atmospheric and adds to the overall feeling of hopelessness. Heather Young brings this riveting mystery full circle with an absolutely shocking denouement.
I was thoroughly immersed in this incredibly engrossing mystery from beginning to end. I highly recommend it to readers of the genre.
The Distant Dead by Heather Young is a captivating mystery that is achingly poignant.
Sixth grader Sal Prentiss goes to live with his off the grid uncles Gideon and Ezra following his mother's death. The lonely land has been in the family for several generations and the Prentiss family has quite the checkered history. Neither uncle is overly affectionate with the grieving boy so when school begins, Sal forms an unexpected friendship with his math teacher, Adam Merkel. Although Merkel is not exactly an animated instructor in the classroom, he completely captures Sal's attention with his mathematic stories while one on one. One morning, on his way to school, Sal makes a grisly discovery when he stumbles across a burned body.
Meanwhile at school, everyone is wondering where Adam is. He has never been late nor has he called in sick. Fellow teacher and friend Nora Wheaton knows something has to be wrong. Unfortunately once word of the burned corpse gets out, she is shocked to discover it is Adam. Her ex-husband Chief Deputy Mason Greer is working the case and he readily answers her questions throughout the investigation. Nora beings asking questions on her own and she uncovers stunning information that might just lead to his killer.
Sal is a bright young man with a creative mind and impressive skill as an artist. His life before his mother's death was lonely yet happy and he greatly mourns her loss. Life with his uncles is sparse and he is often left to his own devices. So when his Uncle Ezra begins paying attention to him, he likes being noticed and included in the family. But Ezra has an ulterior motive for his interest in Sal who reluctantly agrees to his uncle's plan.
Nora is resentful that she had to put her life's plans on hold to care for her father. At the time, she was about to begin her career as an anthropologist. But after returning to Love Lock, she reluctantly accepts a position as a Social Studies teacher. Before Adam's murder, she only pays cursory attention to her students. However, while trying to find out more information about her friend's death, Nora becomes invested in the lonely boy. Despite progress in the case, she becomes certain that Sal is the key to solving the murder.
The Distant Dead is a spellbinding mystery with a slight otherworldly element. Sal is a heart achingly appealing young boy who is intuitive and sympathetic. Nora's bitterness toward her father is understandable and her anger at him is quickly reaching a boiling point. The storyline is multi-faceted and the desolate setting is atmospheric and adds to the overall feeling of hopelessness. Heather Young brings this riveting mystery full circle with an absolutely shocking denouement.
I was thoroughly immersed in this incredibly engrossing mystery from beginning to end. I highly recommend it to readers of the genre.