By Linda Holmes

Laurie Sassalyn’s Aunt Dot passes away after a long life. Trying to sort through her favorite aunt’s possessions, she starts to understand her “spinster” aunt was a more complicated person than she understood. Back in her old home town in Maine, she has recently called off her wedding in Seattle. She spends time with old friends and an old lover. Nearing 40 Laurie is still finding herself. And then the discovery a duck decoy in her aunt’s things starts the clock on a journey of discovery, a small heist, and self discovery….

Holmes is a good writer, and understand her protagonist more than they understand themselves. Her weakness? Men. I fully understand the complaint that men often do a horrific job of writing women. But women often make men one dimensional in their writing, and its often overlooked. Her men are not as badly written as some women I’ve read. But by the end of the book I think we have full look at Laurie’s life, understand her best friend, aunt, Ginger, and even Daisy more than I do her love interest.

A really good read.

308 Pages

3.75/5