In misty, coastal Washington State, Isaac lives alone with his dog, grieving the recent death of his teenage son, Daniel. Next door, Lorrie, a working single mother, struggles with a heinous act committed by her own teenage son. Separated by only a silvery stretch of trees, the two parents are emotionally stranded, isolated by their great losses-until an unfamiliar sixteen-year-old girl shows up, bridges the gap, and changes everything.
Evangeline's arrival at first feels like a blessing, but she is also clearly hiding something. When Isaac, who has retreated into his Quaker faith, isn't equipped to handle her alone, Lorrie forges her own relationship with the girl. Soon all three characters are forced to examine what really happened in their overlapping pasts, and what it all possibly means for a shared future.
With a propulsive mystery at its core, What Comes After offers an unforgettable story of loss and anger, but also of kindness and hope, courage and forgiveness. It is a deeply moving account of strangers and friends not only helping each other forward after tragedy but inspiring a new kind of family.
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(@riverheadbooks, 13 April 2021, ebook, 432 pages, borrowed from @GlasgowLib via @BorrowBox)
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I really enjoyed this book, a domestic drama with elements of a thriller. First off, I loved the title - it fits the plot and theme perfectly. The book opens in dramatic fashion with shocking events which will have repercussion for two families and a teenage girl abandoned to her fate by her mother. I enjoyed the way Evangeline enters the lives of both families but I disliked how much of the truth she holds back. The book explores grief, on both sides as well as love, hope and redemption. This is a powerful read.