Reunion at Red Paint Bay

by George Harrar

Red Paint calls itself "the friendliest town in Maine," a place where everyone knows one another and nothing too disturbing ever happens. Native son Simon Howe is a sturdy family man--a good father and husband--and owner-editor of the town's newspaper. Because there's rarely any real news, he runs stories about Virgin Mary sightings, high school reunions, and petty criminals.

One day Simon's predictable and peaceful life is disrupted by the arrival of an anonymous postcard, the first in a series of increasingly menacing messages. He tries to ignore them, but the implied danger becomes more real, threatening to engulf his wife and son as well. The Howe family becomes engaged in a full-scale psychological battle with their unidentified stalker--without even knowing it. Secrets from Simon's past are uncovered, escalating toward a tense and unexpected climax.

More than a conventional mystery or thriller, Reunion at Red Paint Bay is an exploration of the consequences of guilt, denial, and moral absolutism. Harrar weaves a dramatic and suspenseful tale sure to spur readers into examining the limits of responsibility for one's actions.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Thriller, Family

289 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 29, 2013

About the author

I write fiction for middle grade readers through adults and hold the distinction of having had three novels published by three different publishers for three different age groups in a single year. REUNION AT RED PAINT BAY (Other Press) is my latest book, about a newspaper editor in Maine and his family who engage in a full-scale psychological battle with a stalker without even knowing it. The novel was adapted in 2018 as a French-language film titled "Examen de Conscience." My earlier book, THE SPINNING MAN (Penguin), was also released in 2018 as a film starring Guy Pearce, Minnie Driver and Pierce Brosnan. It is available On Demand and on DVD. A new paperback edition of my novel with a film-theme cover was reissued by Amazon. For YA readers I wrote NOT AS CRAZY AS I SEEM (Houghton Mifflin) about a 15-year-old coping with his OCD "tendencies." PARENTS WANTED (Milkweed),for middle-grade readers, is my semi-autobiographical story of a 12-year-old boy's struggle to fit in with his adoptive family. Of my 12 published short stories, "The 5:22" won the Carson McCullers Prize and was selected for Best American Short Stories, 1999.

Reviews

[Anna Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The feminist in me had a very difficult time with this book. As the story progresses, it's increasingly obvious that a man wrote this book, and that man seems to have something of an agenda as this novel progresses. Young men do stupid and thoughtless things, but grown men should grow beyond rationalizing wrong choices. Being honest about your secrets, while laudable, is not the same as examining your thought and motivations, and actually changing the way you think and behave.

This could've been a great story (it started off strong) and an intriguing look into some important and provocative questions about gender stereotypes and sexual boundaries. Instead, it was a rehash of tired rhetoric that simply reinforces tired gender stereotypes and justifications for rape.

[Victoria · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book felt rather unfinished to me. It wasn’t poorly written, but the abrupt end somewhat spoiled the whole book for me. The resolution really felt incomplete and left a lot of questions hanging. The characters - even the main character, Simon - never truly came to life, and felt a bit flat. His paragon wife and troublesome son bordered on cliched characters, and even the villain never became a three dimensional character. There were a few moments of genuine suspense - some scenes genuinely eerie, even, and the town itself became a more developed character than any of the others. But the strength of scene simply wasn’t enough to redeem the book from the weaknesses of the plot’s arc and the shallow characters. The atmosphere created and the book as whole read similarly to a screenplay, and in fact would probably make a more satisfying film than novel. The rape theme was set up very well, but ultimately went undelivered, and some sections fell into soapbox preaching. Heavy-handed and repetitive themes, combined with the openness of the ending and the un-connectable characters, its fast pacing and strong atmosphere were what carried me through to finishing it.

[Linda K. Savor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hated the ending!!

Will not look for any more of this author's books. Not my of type of fiction when you don't know how the main character turned out ...

[Robert Beveridge · Rating 3 out of 5]

George Harrar, Reunion at Red Paint Bay (Other Press, 2013)

Full disclosure: this book was provided to me free of charge by Amazon Vine.

I finished reading this book just before the turn of the new year, and here it is late April and I'm just starting to write a review of it; I've never really been able to come up with anything compelling to say regarding it one way or the other. It's your basic thriller with pretensions to something larger (and while a number of reviews, notably Booklist's, give away major spoilers in that regard, I will avoid doing so here in case you haven't read those already), but it never quite gets there; it almost seems as if Harrar, once he's finished with the setup, doesn't know what to do with the payoff. Questions are raised, but not only are no answers forthcoming, I sometimes wondered if Harrar was certain exactly what questions he wanted to ask. None of which makes this an automatic pass-over, as the mystery/thriller angle is still solid, and the setup is good stuff. But when the cliff comes rushing up, Harrar didn't even attempt to turn the wheel. ** ½

[Teri]

Can not even rate this.
First, I hated Simon almost immediately. I'm not sure why the author wrote Simon this way and had the book end so open-ended like this. Simon is just a fucking horrible person. And he didn't get what he deserved. It was so disappointing because that's the only reason I kept reading it.
There were some good chapters, some things were set up in an intriguing way, but it was very obvious where things were going Simon defending a rapist on like page 7 pretty much lets you know all you need to about him. Of course he raped this girl, of course he doesn't acknowledge it. Of course he says " I was drunk, I thought she wanted it, I thought she was laughing but I guess she was really crying." The thing that is so hard to figure out is WHY would the author have zero repercussions for this character? Of course, since we don't know how things will play out, who is to say that nothing will happen, but its incredibly disturbing to listen to this pathetic excuse for a human argue with his wife to justify his raping this girl and possibly murdering this other dude. Then when he finds out the guy is alive, he's all like Whoo hoo! everything is okay now. Um, no man, what a sicko.
So I am having such a hard time with how things went that I can't even comment on writing or anything. This isn't some psychological thriller, you know where everything is heading, there are some intense moments, but man...what a disappointment.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This went in a strange and intriguing direction.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this story. It made me feel very uncomfortable from the start, though I wasn't sure why. I think it's because the characters are so believable and they're not all that likeable. As the story progresses and Simon and Amy are stalked by a man who is clearly not sure what he intends to do, but seems intent on some kind of revenge, I found myself feeling even more creeped out by how easily these seemingly ordinary people are able to act in ways that seem out of character. Except that how they seem isn't all that they are about. And this makes me think about how every one of us has secrets, some more damaging than others, and the potential certain secrets have of poisoning our lives and the lives of those we love. The novel really makes you think about taking responsibility for one's actions and the denial and rationalizations that sometimes can make a person think that a wrong doing is the right thing.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected this to be more. More full of suspense, more terrifying, just more. Also, I just can't forgive the "could care less" on page 6. I know that it was dialogue, and sometime it fits, but this guy is the editor of a newspaper. If you edit a newspaper you should know how to speak the language properly. Especially if you later use words like "palimpset". It wasn't necessarily a bad story, it just want all that good. Things happened to easily and without much build up. The characters were all flat. My favorite part was "'Love's never enough.' Paul says. 'Love doesn't stop pain. Love doesn't stop hate. They say love and hate are two sides of the same coin, but that's wrong. Love and hate are on the same side of the coin, all mixed up together. Nothing separates love and hate.'"

[Heidi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked up this book as a Mainer who enjoys reading mysteries. I put it down after the 278th page a Mainer who was extremely unimpressed with the contents of the book as an offering of literature set in Maine. There's nothing quite like reading a novel and getting the feeling, with each paragraph, that this book was very much written by a man - not in any good sense. The heavy topics were treated with a rather blasé attitude by the male main character, and he frequently - almost constantly - dismissed the concerns of his wife and viewed her reactions as overreactions to straight up annoying. All in all, it was two hours wasted on a book I cannot recommend as good reading to anyone.

[Nancy Linde · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book reads somewhat like a mystery (as we watch with increasing tension a postcard-writing "stalker" draws closer and closer to his target), this is much more of a psychological drama. It's an engrossing and very well written exploration of guilt and innocence. It's also a fascinating look at the stress an accusation from the distant past can put on a marriage. What does a wife do when her husband turns out to be a profoundly different person than the man she thought she married.

This is a great book for book clubs!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I pick up a book from Other Press I always know I'm getting something unique and superbly written, unlike anything else on the market. My latest pick, Reunion at Red Paint Bay, is no exception! More than just a psychological thriller, it's an exploration of who we are, how well you can really know another person, and how well you can really know yourself. I couldn't put it down, and I want more from this author!

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the small town atmosphere, the idea of a man returning home to buy his town's failing newspaper. Yet something with this novel just did not connect for me. The pace was very slow, the suspense with the editor and his wife being sent strange postcards from a anonymous source, could have been better. It was just okay.

[Monty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Labored and read like the characters and plot were caught in quicksand.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

enjoyed reading the book but the ending was abrupt and made me angry!

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
Simon Howe is leading a pleasant if unspectacular life in the small town of Red Paint Bay, Maine. He's the owner/editor of the local newspaper, married to a psychotherapist who specializes in treating abused women. They have an unruly 11-year-old son that pushes every boundary they set. Simon begins to get postcards from all across the country with a menacing tone to the message. A strange man shows up in town who stalks the Howes in various ways. Tension mounts, and you begin to wonder what the story is about.
As the book progresses, some unsavoury events from 25 years ago resurface, forcing Simon to confront his youth.
Overall, I like the book. The sense of menace feels very real as the stalker gets ever braver. I think the weakness is at the end. I'm not sure it was a satisfying denouement to the story. So, it's worth reading but probably not especially memorable.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simon is the editor of the small town paper in Red Paint Bay. He has moved his family back here where he grew up after working as a reporter for a big newspaper. But Simon's 25th class reunion changes everything.
I rarely say this but I could have used a little more story at the end, it ended and left me hanging. Guess I'll just have to provide my own ending about how the town reacts to Simon's admission.

[Hugh Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It has some of the same elements of his fine novel, The Spinning Man. Harrar is a master of mystery. He plants lots of seeds early, and like Hitchcock, some are there to throw you off the trail. There are well developed characters in this book. This book is sort of like The Spinning Man meets Cape Fear. Coming in at just under 300 pages, it's a quick read. I heartily recommend it.

[Lynette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book, I think, was supposed to be introspective. Simon, the owner and editor of a small town newspaper gets weird anonymous postcards that dredge up something in his past. His future begins to change because he's failed to recognize and admit something from his past. His son, Davey, thinks it's easier to lie than tell the truth, which bugs him until he sees that sometimes it's true.

[Kim Messina · Rating 1 out of 5]

At first I thought I was annoyed by the narrators voice (listened to this book) but it truly is a yawnfest. The only character I cared about was the cat. Plot could have been interesting, but I felt like every character was flat or cliche, and just when I thought there would be more the story ended. So glad it was a quick read. Suggest skipping this one.

[Ktbird · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggled to relate to the characters - they just fell a little flat. That said, there were some unpredictable twists and turns and a reminder of why the past should stay put. Mysteries and wonders haunt this happy little Maine town.

[Penny Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I came across this book, but decided to give it a try. It was a short, easy read, held my interest and made you think about how lies or things you try to push from your memory have a way of coming back to haunt us.

[Don Perschau · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though the idea for the book was ok I didn't like any of the characters including the wife and child. The ending was unsatisfying and the ex con character didn't add much. I did like the setting for the story.

[Crystal Johnston · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an ok read, which got slow in the middle. being hyped as echoing Hitchcock is what made me pick up the book but it is nowhere near that level. with the 3.50 I spent but just barely

[Pat Price · Rating 2 out of 5]

This novel began well but seemed as if the author lost his enthusiasm mid-way and decided to end it as quickly and as improbably as possible. The characters were ultimately caricatures and largely unlikeable. As a clinical psychologist who ran a program for victims of sexual and physical abuse, I would say that the female protagonist's therapeutic position was untenable. Was very disappointing, and I was left feeling that I had wasted my time.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Revenge is often elaborate. That's part of its appeal. You get to enjoy it over and over again as you plan it."

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A page turner. A great wet weekend read

[Heather Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. Kept you wanting to find out how it ends and then the ending sucked.

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not get into this book though sounded interesting

[Pam Hicks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not so promosing at the start, but then the entanglements began. All about moral & ethical dilemmas, & human nature.

[Rich · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just hated the way it ended. No resolution at all.