13½

“13 1/2” by Nevada Barr
recounts the story of Dylan, an 11-year-old boy convicted in 1971 of murdering his family with a hatchet, sparing only his older brother Rich, who was severely injured. He is dubbed “Butcher Boy.” Polly, fleeing an unimaginably abusive home at 15, makes her way to New Orleans. As an adult, she encounters Marshall Marchand and falls in love with him, as do her two daughters. However, she soon discovers that Danny, Marshall's brother, appears to be overly controlling. Appearances can be deceiving.