Spring Melt by Lori Duffy Foster Book Review

About the Book:

As a doctor's wife in a thriving Adirondack village in the 1920s, Ella Devine seems to have an ideal life. Her husband grew rich catering to New York City socialites who wanted to hide their TB diagnoses from their friends. Their marriage is devoid of emotion, but so is she, having learned long ago to quietly accept whatever life offers. But all that changes when three men are charged with a nineteen-year-old murder, and the long-buried crime that shaped Ella's childhood is exposed. Spring Melt draws on the rich and fascinating history of the Adirondacks, where hikers who see only low hills and lush vegetation fail to perceive the hidden dangers and lose their lives by stepping two feet off the trail. Since the late 1800s, the wilderness that is the Adirondacks has been both a frontier to be conquered only by the hardiest of humans and a playland for the wealthy. When these two worlds collide, the resulting explosion can be fatal.

My Review:

This novel started out a little slow but by the end, I was fully engaged. I was surprised that the novel ultimately elicited emotion in me. The first half of the book sets the stage and records the preparation the attorneys make. About half way through the courtroom scenes begin and the novel takes off.

The writing style is mostly prose with not much action or dialogue. Foster explains the action rather than having it happen. Her prose is well crafted, however. It almost seems personal, making one fall in love with the Adirondacks and easily relate to the characters. I really like how she revealed inner character by how people responded to the forest areas. Lumberjacks were tough men making a living in the forest. Ella felt peace and freedom surrounded by trees while the lawyer Casey felt they drained him of his energy. There is also a well crafted romance with a second chance at love and new life.

This is a good historical novel of courtroom drama. Foster says this was her first novel, put away for years. I am glad it is now available with a final revision. Potential readers should know a possible trigger situation is a rape. While it did not happen within this plot, it is remembered and plays a vital role in the courtroom drama.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

A former crime reporter, Lori Duffy Foster was born and raised in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, where a piece of her heart remains and her latest novel, SPRING MELT, is set. SPRING MELT, her first historical-suspense novel, releases March 10. Her previous novels include NEVER LET GO, a thriller, and the Lisa Jamison Mystery Series. Her books have won the International Impact Book Award and have been nominees or finalists for Agatha, Silver Falchion and Shamus awards. Lori is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, The Historical Novel Society, International Thriller Writers, The Finger Lakes Authors & Readers Experience and Pennwriters. After several moves about the country with her family, Lori now lives and writes in the hills of Northern Pennsylvania. Look out for NO STRANGER HERE, a thriller, releasing from Speaking Volumes in 2027.

Speaking Volumes LLC, 268 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through the author. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)