Thank you Bibliolifestyle, William Morrow Books, #partner, for the finished copy of When Ghosts Come Home in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: William Morrow
Published: September 27, 2022 (First published September 21, 2021)
Summary:
From the New York Times bestselling author of A Land More Kind Than Home, a tender and haunting story of a father and daughter, crime and forgiveness, race and memory.
When the roar of a low-flying plane awakens him in the middle of the night, Sheriff Winston Barnes knows something strange is happening at the nearby airfield on the coast of North Carolina. But nothing can prepare him for what he finds: a large airplane has crash-landed and is now sitting sideways on the runway, and there are no signs of a pilot or cargo. When the body of a local man is discovered–shot dead and lying on the grass near the crash site–Winston begins a murder investigation that will change the course of his life and the fate of the community that he has sworn to protect.
Everyone is a suspect, including the dead man. As rumors and accusations fly, long-simmering racial tensions explode overnight, and Winston, whose own tragic past has followed him like a ghost, must do his duty while facing the painful repercussions of old decisions. Winston also knows that his days as sheriff may be numbered. He’s up for re-election against a corrupt and well-connected challenger, and his deputies are choosing sides. As if these events weren’t troubling enough, he must finally confront his daughter Colleen, who has come home grieving a shattering loss she cannot fully articulate.
As the suspense builds and this compelling mystery unfolds, Wiley Cash delves deep into the hearts of these richly drawn, achingly sympathetic characters to reveal the nobility of an ordinary man struggling amidst terrifying, extraordinary circumstances.
My thoughts:
This is the first book I’ve read by Wiley Cash and it certainly will not be the last. I can see why he is a fan favorite – he is such a gifted storyteller – and I cannot wait to read more from him.
This book is so captivating and compelling. The suspense and tension are there right from the first page and that continues all the way through. But this story is so much more than just a murder mystery. It’s steeped in timely topics that the author deftly manages to weave into the story. And for a short read – this one isn’t even 300 pages – it sure packs quite an emotional punch!
I love character-driven stories and this one definitely gives us some characters to sink our teeth into. There is a complex father-daughter relationship that is explored between Winston and Colleen that is as haunting as it is heartwarming. All the characters though are deeply flawed, real and relatable and you cannot help but want to root for them in some way. They tug at your heartstrings.
I was pulled into this story right from the beginning and loved every minute of it – even the ending that I did not see coming! Talk about a shock to the system! This would not only be a great book to read for this time of year, but also a great choice for a bookclub because there is just so much to unpack. If you haven’t picked this one up yet, I highly recommend doing so!
