Be Careful What You Wish For

This is book four of the Harry Clifton Series. More than any book yet this one is set in the world of business. An author who likes cliff-hanger endings to entice the reader to buy the next in the series gives this book an explosive ending.

Keep Quiet

If you've read Reservation Road or seen the movie based on it then you have an idea of the plot for this book. Another movie in a similar vein would be I Saw What You Did Last Summer. It may be possible to hide a crime but living with it is quite another proposition. The fact that the wife and mother here is a judge adds an ironic twist. At the heart of this tale is the fact that the relationship between father and son is one of parenting not buddy, buddy; parenting is not a popularity contest. Somehow the book comes off as less than satisfying and the snapper ending seems somewhat contrived.

His Whole Life

At first glance everyone in this novel appears to be on a guilt trip. The protagonist we follow in His Whole Life is Jim whose family is visiting his uncle, his mother's brother, who lives in Lanark south-west of Ottawa, Canada, Jim's family lives in New York City. Jim and his mother, Nan, move back to the winterized log cabin to live when the owners die leaving Jim's father behind in New York. Most of the action, such as it is takes place in Jim's mind.

This is a Canadian novel despite its part-time location in NYC and Quebec Separatism and Referendums work their way into the storyline. The story follows Jim from age 8 to 17. Somehow as much as I enjoyed reading it this book was tough going.