The Good Son

The Good Son is a well-crafted, compelling, 'holy cow I can't believe this a debut' story about complicated family dynamics and how one incident and an obsession changed the course of a woman's life.

This psychological drama pulls readers in from the first pages and is a dark, character-driven story about Zoe - a woman who continues to be haunted by a tragedy she witnessed as a child. The pacing is slow-burn but the story has an intriguing intensity, and I enjoyed the uneasy feeling about whether or not I could trust Zoe’s memory and perceptions.

The story pivots between Zoe's childhood and adulthood and the reader is privy to her inner thoughts, growing anxiety and desperation to share the secret she's held for years. Zoe also has suspicions about her older brother, Ricky who is clearly a class-A jerk, but could he be involved in the murder of a child? Zoe isn't sure and her obsession with her brother and the past incident influences her self-perception and her adult life. I was a bit surprised that the resolution of the murder didn't have quite the bang I was expecting, but it was a satisfying ending, nonetheless.

The Good Son is an impressive debut and I loved that the author set her story in southwestern Ontario. Many readers will recognize locations and enjoy the Canadian bits, but non-Canucks won't be thrown by the references. Carolyn Huizinga Mills is a wonderful addition to the Canadian author community and I eagerly look forward to reading more from her.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Cormorant Books for my complimentary print copy of this title in exchange for my honest review. 

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Author: Carolyn Huizinga Mills

Genre: Psychological Drama, Canadian

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from publisher

Pages: 286

Publisher: Cormorant Books

First Published: April 17, 2021

Opening Line: I didn't always hate my big brother.

Book Description from GoodReads: Zoe Emmerson has a secret, one she’s kept for years. Her quiet world is shaken when her past finally catches up with her: the investigation into the murder of a six-year-old neighbor is re-opened thirty years after the fact, threating to destroy her and everyone she’s fought so hard to protect.

She was just a child when it happened, scared and confused, and she’s never been entirely sure what she saw. But she kept the shadow of her brother’s suspected involvement in the murder from the police, and the knowledge that she withheld a crucial piece of information haunts her.

As the past collides with the present, Zoe is forced to face the most difficult truth.