Fielding (The Wild Zone) delivers another emotional blitz in this story about Marcy Taggart, who, at 50, is newly divorced and mourning her daughter, Devon, who two years ago disappeared in a boating accident and is presumed dead. On what was to be her 25th wedding anniversary, Marcy travels to Ireland for a vacation and spots a girl she believes to be Devon, and her sightseeing quickly turns into a quest. For better or worse, she meets two strangers who offer to help her in her search, but she can't determine whether their kindness is sincere. The stakes are raised when Marcy's hotel room is ransacked, and the carefully drawn plot twists toward a dramatic conclusion. Though some of the coincidences and developments stretch believability, Fielding succeeds in creating a winning heroine; indeed, Marcy's need for emotional release ends up being a more compelling plot driver than the unlikely craziness involving her charismatic new friends and the hunt for her daughter. (Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
From
Fifty-year-old Marcy Taggart is in Ireland celebrating her twenty-fifth wedding anniversary with one notable absence, that of her husband, who recently left her for the female golf pro at their country club. Ever since the mysterious disappearance of her daughter, Devon, two years ago, Marcy has been suffering one long nervous breakdown. Her soon-to-be-ex-husband and her sister are convinced that Devon, who had bipolar disorder, committed suicide. But Marcy believes Devon ran away to start a new life. When Marcy takes a break from her relentless sightseeing in Cork, she catches sight of Devon through a window, and so begins her reckless odyssey to reclaim her missing daughter. A handsome tourist, a charming bartender, and a lonely nanny add spice to the mix. Despite Fielding’s weakness at creating dialogue and her rote attempts to add local color and history, which read like they’ve been cut and pasted from a Fodor’s guide, Marcy is one appealing character. Blunt, grief-stricken, and, finally, sick and tired of acting the good girl, she gives vent to her emotions and comes into her own. --Joanne Wilkinson
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From Publishers Weekly
Fielding (The Wild Zone) delivers another emotional blitz in this story about Marcy Taggart, who, at 50, is newly divorced and mourning her daughter, Devon, who two years ago disappeared in a boating accident and is presumed dead. On what was to be her 25th wedding anniversary, Marcy travels to Ireland for a vacation and spots a girl she believes to be Devon, and her sightseeing quickly turns into a quest. For better or worse, she meets two strangers who offer to help her in her search, but she can't determine whether their kindness is sincere. The stakes are raised when Marcy's hotel room is ransacked, and the carefully drawn plot twists toward a dramatic conclusion. Though some of the coincidences and developments stretch believability, Fielding succeeds in creating a winning heroine; indeed, Marcy's need for emotional release ends up being a more compelling plot driver than the unlikely craziness involving her charismatic new friends and the hunt for her daughter. (Feb.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
From
Fifty-year-old Marcy Taggart is in Ireland celebrating her twenty-fifth wedding anniversary with one notable absence, that of her husband, who recently left her for the female golf pro at their country club. Ever since the mysterious disappearance of her daughter, Devon, two years ago, Marcy has been suffering one long nervous breakdown. Her soon-to-be-ex-husband and her sister are convinced that Devon, who had bipolar disorder, committed suicide. But Marcy believes Devon ran away to start a new life. When Marcy takes a break from her relentless sightseeing in Cork, she catches sight of Devon through a window, and so begins her reckless odyssey to reclaim her missing daughter. A handsome tourist, a charming bartender, and a lonely nanny add spice to the mix. Despite Fielding’s weakness at creating dialogue and her rote attempts to add local color and history, which read like they’ve been cut and pasted from a Fodor’s guide, Marcy is one appealing character. Blunt, grief-stricken, and, finally, sick and tired of acting the good girl, she gives vent to her emotions and comes into her own. --Joanne Wilkinson