The Testament of Harold's Wife by Lynne Hugo
Kensington: 9/25/18
eBook review copy; 304 pages
ISBN-13: 9781496716682
The Testament of Harold's Wife by Lynne Hugo is a highly recommended novel featuring an independent older woman with a plan to get revenge.
First a drunk driver killed her beloved grandson, Cody. Then her
husband, Harold, committed suicide. Louisa knows Harold was trying to
get revenge on the man who killed Cody, who claimed there was a deer in
the road and was never held accountable for the death. Gus, the local
sheriff, kept an eye on Harold and interfered with his plans at every
turn. Now, with Harold gone Louisa decides that it is time for her to
continue Harold's plan and get revenge on the killer. Now her adult son,
Gary, who has dealt with Cody's death by becoming a minister, is
keeping an eye on Louisa (along with Gus). Gary seems to think there is
something wrong with Louisa having her chickens inside the house and
talking to them. But, Louisa knows how to execute a plan and keep ahead
of those who want to interfere.
The Testament of Harold's Wife is a humorous, fast paced novel.
Each chapter is told through a different character's point-of-view, with
the bulk of the novel following Louisa and her plans. It is an original
novel with a rather charming, folksy, heroine who is grieving her
losses without feeling sorry for herself. Instead she makes a plan and
sets out to get the killer. The bulk of the character envelopment is,
naturally, for Louisa. And while she is appealing, she does seem to act
and talk older than she really is for no obvious reason.
I enjoyed the novel and there are several pretty funny scenes in it,
along with several touching moments and recollections. It is an
entertaining and has some poignant moments. Louisa is honest when she
shares her feeling and observations about those in her life. I was
interested in her plan to get revenge and how it would all play out. The
ending was a satisfying conclusion to the story. (On the other hand, I
guess I don't find quite as much charm as some readers in Louisa
discussing giving alcohol to her chickens and cat.) In the end, this is a
satisfying novel about a woman dealing with grief, with humor,
practicality, and looking ahead to her future.
Disclosure:
My review copy was courtesy of Kensington.
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