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ceeceerose's review
4.0
This is by the far the best 2013 book I read all year. It’s emotional, well-plotted, engaging, well-constructed and suspenseful without being a thriller. What more can you ask for from a good novel! And it’s a debut novel, at that!
Most of the story takes place 16-17 years before the epilogue, which is set in 2011. So, we head back to 1994 and there we meet Kirsten Hammarstrom, 10, and her family, all of whom live on a rural Wisconsin farm. Grandpa (dad’s father’s) lives in the smaller of the two houses on the farm and Aunt Julia living just down the road. An idyllic, tranquil, laid back life. Until 18-year-old brother Johnny falls for the wrong girl and then the wrong girl goes missing, with Johnny as the prime (and only) suspect.
By setting the epilogue up in the “present day” and making the core of the novel a flashback, DeBoard is able to get away with having a very adult, mature and educated voice as 10-year-old Kirsten. At first, I thought how unbelievable the point-of-view was because no fourth grader would talk or think like that. But, because DeBoard sets it up as the 26-year-old Kirsten telling the story, she gets away with it. It also was a good “bookending” technique…the epilogue and then the last few chapters are told in Kirsten’s 2011 world…which worked well for the flow of the story.
If I had to find one flaw here it would be that even at 26, Kirsten’s storytelling voice sounds more like that of a wiser, middle-aged adult with decades of experiences under her belt. But, that is a small criticism for such a fantastic first effort.
Most of the story takes place 16-17 years before the epilogue, which is set in 2011. So, we head back to 1994 and there we meet Kirsten Hammarstrom, 10, and her family, all of whom live on a rural Wisconsin farm. Grandpa (dad’s father’s) lives in the smaller of the two houses on the farm and Aunt Julia living just down the road. An idyllic, tranquil, laid back life. Until 18-year-old brother Johnny falls for the wrong girl and then the wrong girl goes missing, with Johnny as the prime (and only) suspect.
By setting the epilogue up in the “present day” and making the core of the novel a flashback, DeBoard is able to get away with having a very adult, mature and educated voice as 10-year-old Kirsten. At first, I thought how unbelievable the point-of-view was because no fourth grader would talk or think like that. But, because DeBoard sets it up as the 26-year-old Kirsten telling the story, she gets away with it. It also was a good “bookending” technique…the epilogue and then the last few chapters are told in Kirsten’s 2011 world…which worked well for the flow of the story.
If I had to find one flaw here it would be that even at 26, Kirsten’s storytelling voice sounds more like that of a wiser, middle-aged adult with decades of experiences under her belt. But, that is a small criticism for such a fantastic first effort.
fourlittlebees's review
4.0
Reviewed for RT Book Reviews July 2013 issue: http://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/mourning-hours
jmj697mn's review
5.0
I pretty much just adored this book. The author has a fantastic writing style that I can't wait to read more of. She just sucked me into the story and I couldn't put it down. I was even a bit shocked by the ending, even with many reviewers saying they saw it coming. I guess I was too close to the story. I cannot wait to see what else DeBoard comes up with, because I know I'll be reading it. Highly recommended for mystery lovers and YA fans.
marykaczmarek's review
5.0
The book being set in Wisconsin is what interested me. I could not put this book down.
linn1031's review
5.0
I cry every time I read this book, it's so good! Kirsten's POV is so real and honest. I'm glad that the book is in her POV.
happycrafter207's review
4.0
An easy to read first person narrative, this story is told primarily through a nine year old girl's point of view. Her name is Kirsten, and in the early 90's her teenage brother goes on a date with his girlfriend, and the girlfriend Stacy Lemke, is never seen again.
From the beginning, this seemed a twisted story, maybe even dark. More than anything, this book takes you through what happens to Kirsten and her family as a result of the suspicions cast over her brother, who was the last person to see Stacy alive. Did her brother kill Stacy or not? I wish there was alittle more details about why grandfather had issue with the mother. But over all this book hit all the right spots for me at this point int time. Fast forward to present time, and the story continues and there is an ending (no having to guess what happened to the characters after which was very satisfying for this story).
From the beginning, this seemed a twisted story, maybe even dark. More than anything, this book takes you through what happens to Kirsten and her family as a result of the suspicions cast over her brother, who was the last person to see Stacy alive. Did her brother kill Stacy or not? I wish there was alittle more details about why grandfather had issue with the mother. But over all this book hit all the right spots for me at this point int time. Fast forward to present time, and the story continues and there is an ending (no having to guess what happened to the characters after which was very satisfying for this story).
lady_jess_87's review
5.0
This book was very hard to put down. I think it only took me about a week to read. I loved the characters and how the story felt extremely real, like it was unfolding in front of me.