The Familiar Dark

The loss of a child is possibly the most painful thing a parent can ever experience. I am on the cusp of parenthood myself and this story certainly hit hard! Treading the slightly tropey road of poverty in rural America, this story does not shy away from the brutal realities of this. We follow Eve, who's daughter was one of two 12 year olds found dead in a playground. She is struggling to deal with this loss, being supported by her brother. Her family is the poorest of the poor, brought up in crime in trailer park. She has been trying to break out of this and free her daughter from the cycle. The other dead child, her daughter's friend, is very much from the other side of the tracks - a wealthier family.

As always in these scenarios, the town holds many secrets. Loves, lies and honor are all poorly defined and not where you might expect. The twists and implications are well realised and the denouement is very satisfying. Overall an excellent example of small town crime and poverty in the US.