Set in cold northern Canada, ”A Town Called Solace” intertwines the tales of Clara, a seven-year-old bereft at the disappearance of her teenage sister; newly divorced and jobless Liam, new to the town of Solace after being unexpectedly bequeathed the house next door to Clara; and Elizabeth, winding down her life in a nursing home. The novel is a gentle but forensic domestic drama, told without great urgency but in a quiet style that reveals. I found the story of Elizabeth a tad prosaic until a wonderful reveal towards the end, but Liam and Clara are unveiled with authority, and there are many enjoyable moments of subtle comedy. In the end, I felt A Town Called Solace illuminated grief and restoration. Well worth reading.
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