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DON'T YOU CRY
by Mary Kubica
MIRA , May 2016
320 pages
$26.99
ISBN: 0778319059


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

DON'T YOU CRY by Mary Kubica offers the reader two main characters each telling their own stories: Quinn, a 20-something young woman working in Chicago who shares an apartment with Esther, seemingly the perfect roommate. Quinn wakes up hung over and disoriented after a night out to discover that Esther is missing. The second major character is Alex, a sad 18-year old trapped in a dead-end job in a small cafe, taking care of his alcoholic father. They live in a dilapidated neighborhood in a fading resort town along Lake Michigan. His life is transformed when a young attractive woman enters the café. He quickly becomes obsessed with her, and when he sees her by the lake, he starts to follow her. Is the mystery woman Esther the missing roommate? I'll never tell.

The two story lines stay independent of each other until the very end, with Quinn trying to figure out if her missing roommate is "St. Esther," as Quinn describes the person she has always thought of as a thoughtful friend and roommate, or a psychopathic wacko. Why is she advertising for a new roommate? What happened to the roommate before Quinn? There is a romantic interest for Quinn: Ben is her co-worker whom she likes more than she should as he already has a girlfriend.

Alex meanwhile follows the mysterious woman - he has given her the name Pearl - and discovers she is staying in an abandoned house across the street from the house he shares with his father. The house is rumored to be haunted; the neighborhood story is that some 20 years ago, a child died in a terrible accident. We also learn a little more about Alex who has had more than his share of unhappiness in his young life. One of the mysteries of the book for me was how he managed to remain so caring and considerate.

Kubica is clearly a talented writer - her narrative flows effortlessly, her characters are engaging, her two story lines weave together and culminate in a shocking ending that will surprise most readers. There were two major issues for this reader, however.

There was a disconnect between the light and breezy tone of the book, particularly in the sections attributed to Quinn, and the need to build the suspense that is required in a psychological thriller. There was no sense of terror or foreboding. Alex's sections did provide a more effective, appropriately creepy tone.

The second issue for me was Quinn's utter cluelessness about her roommate. It simply was not believable. Usually, when people decide to share an apartment, they talk about previous roommates and provide a little family background. Didn't either young woman have other friends who would have been able to share some light on the past? As the secrets in the plot are revealed, they come as a total surprise to Quinn.

Even with my complaints about the book, I did find myself drawn into this novel. Alex to me was the more compelling character, even if he was just a little too noble to be entirely realistic.

§ Phyllis Onstad has been a writer, editor, civil servant, teacher and voracious reader. She currently lives in the California wine country.

Reviewed by Phyllis Onstad, April 2016

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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