Book Review: The Reunion by Michael James Grant
Book review by Bud Gundy
Any reunion story is ripe for lots of drama, but in The
Reunion, Michael James Grant milks it for
all it is worth.
Here’s the basic plot: Stone Grey, a writer living in San
Francisco with his brother, returns to his small, coastal Maine town for his 20th
high school reunion. While there
is the usual complement of jealousies, unresolved conflicts and lust both
fulfilled and unrequited, this gathering takes a quick detour to murder and it
isn’t long before Stone is neck deep in a mystery that stretches back to his
childhood.
Ocean’s Harbor is a quaint spot, but seems filled with the
sort of deranged and dangerous people who tend to stand out against such a
picturesque backdrop. In the midst
of all the joshing and reminiscing, we get flashes of what is to come by what
has happened in the past: unsolved murders, mysterious attacks and dark secrets
along isolated roads.
Slowly, the story twists along a satisfying path that leads
us to the present, where curiosity and questions lead to more murder. Before we know what’s happening, Stone
is strapped into a roller coaster of a story that tears along to a violent
denouement.
Small town secrets are fine plot devices, and Grant delivers
them in abundance. From fumbling
high school gropes on the nighttime beach to resentful relatives and corrupt
cops, we get an impressive array of turning points that lead the story into
interesting places. And while it
all felt complete in the end, I didn’t see the answer coming – not an easy feat
within the confines of a small town.
Grant is a fine writer with a style that often feels like a
splash of water – descriptions and dialogue often strike unexpectedly and can
be quite fun, but the sheer number of characters is somewhat overwhelming and
now and again the story felt in need of a firmer grip. Even still, I ripped through the book
in two readings and enjoyed every moment.
If you’re looking for a good summer read, I can recommend The
Reunion.