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Record Lows
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Expected 5 Jan 27Win a free print copy of this book!
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10 copies available
U.S. only
An “intimate and epic” (Claire Lombardo, Same As It Ever Was) family drama wrapped in a missing-persons case, set during the historic Buffalo blizzard of ’77
It’s 1977 and in the town of Oneira, New York, a blizzard is gathering force…
Harmon Pond, editor-in-chief of the local newspaper, is struggling to keep afloat amid mounting debt and vanishing ad revenue. So when the creditor who’s been secretly funding him vanishes without a trace, Harmon thinks it’s his lucky break. Meanwhile, his eldest daughter, Teresa—the paper’s ambitious intern—sees a story that could make her name.
But for Harmon’s devout Italian American wife, Pauline, the disappearance stirs up memories of a childhood she has tried hard to put behind her, and secrets she would prefer to keep buried.
With the parents tangled in their own concerns and Teresa relentlessly searching for answers, no one notices that middle-child Fran has developed a habit of sneaking out at night, and Lonnie, the youngest, is taking dangerous risks of his own.
As the manhunt intensifies, and the snowstorm builds into one of the worst in history, the Pond family must find a way to accept the truth, and each other, before they lose themselves forever.
In a dazzling debut that Rumaan Alam calls "gripping (and funny) and beautifully written,” Record Lows announces CJ Green as a thrilling new American voice.
It’s 1977 and in the town of Oneira, New York, a blizzard is gathering force…
Harmon Pond, editor-in-chief of the local newspaper, is struggling to keep afloat amid mounting debt and vanishing ad revenue. So when the creditor who’s been secretly funding him vanishes without a trace, Harmon thinks it’s his lucky break. Meanwhile, his eldest daughter, Teresa—the paper’s ambitious intern—sees a story that could make her name.
But for Harmon’s devout Italian American wife, Pauline, the disappearance stirs up memories of a childhood she has tried hard to put behind her, and secrets she would prefer to keep buried.
With the parents tangled in their own concerns and Teresa relentlessly searching for answers, no one notices that middle-child Fran has developed a habit of sneaking out at night, and Lonnie, the youngest, is taking dangerous risks of his own.
As the manhunt intensifies, and the snowstorm builds into one of the worst in history, the Pond family must find a way to accept the truth, and each other, before they lose themselves forever.
In a dazzling debut that Rumaan Alam calls "gripping (and funny) and beautifully written,” Record Lows announces CJ Green as a thrilling new American voice.
368 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication January 5, 2027
About the author
CJ Green
1 book51 followersCJ Green is a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop who lives with his family in Virginia. Record Lows is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 rounded up
It’s winter, 1977 and Oneira in upstate New York is experiencing the coldest winter on record, with a huge blizzard closing in, mirroring the storm at the centre of Harmon Ponds family. Harmon is the editor of The Voice and is drowning in debt, juggling funds to try to stay afloat when the man he is most in debt to disappears. His eldest daughter Teresa, sees the disappearance of cop Geno St John as her big break as the junior on the paper. Meanwhile, Harmons devout Catholic wife Pauline, is wrestling with unwelcome memories and secrets she must keep buried. Their middle child Fran has many issues at school and, in addition, has started sneaking out at night, whilst the youngest Lonnie is in big trouble at school. As the weather closes in and the potential blizzard of the century approaches, the Pond family troubles pile up like the falling snow.
The first part of the book is a bit of a mixed bag. It starts well, there’s some much appreciated humour and some excellent vivid descriptions of characters, particularly of Geno, and also of the surroundings and the weather. It seems to offer a lot of promise as there’s a LOT going on with this family and the storytelling is very lively. The family is definitely drowning in issues, not least the lack of money.
Then, it begins to drag and not really go anywhere until the last 45% when the pace picks up with one event piling on top of another, making it feel at times a bit like a dark pantomime or perhaps more appropriately, a train wreck. The acute cold adds an extra chilly atmospheric dimension to the storytelling too. The characterisation is very good, all are colourfully portrayed. The very name Harmon Ponds conjures up kinds of images for me!
Overall, the last part where it’s a rollercoaster raises the star rating to 4 as I particularly like the atmosphere the author creates and it’s clear they can create good characters and intriguing, different plots.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan/Picador for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
It’s winter, 1977 and Oneira in upstate New York is experiencing the coldest winter on record, with a huge blizzard closing in, mirroring the storm at the centre of Harmon Ponds family. Harmon is the editor of The Voice and is drowning in debt, juggling funds to try to stay afloat when the man he is most in debt to disappears. His eldest daughter Teresa, sees the disappearance of cop Geno St John as her big break as the junior on the paper. Meanwhile, Harmons devout Catholic wife Pauline, is wrestling with unwelcome memories and secrets she must keep buried. Their middle child Fran has many issues at school and, in addition, has started sneaking out at night, whilst the youngest Lonnie is in big trouble at school. As the weather closes in and the potential blizzard of the century approaches, the Pond family troubles pile up like the falling snow.
The first part of the book is a bit of a mixed bag. It starts well, there’s some much appreciated humour and some excellent vivid descriptions of characters, particularly of Geno, and also of the surroundings and the weather. It seems to offer a lot of promise as there’s a LOT going on with this family and the storytelling is very lively. The family is definitely drowning in issues, not least the lack of money.
Then, it begins to drag and not really go anywhere until the last 45% when the pace picks up with one event piling on top of another, making it feel at times a bit like a dark pantomime or perhaps more appropriately, a train wreck. The acute cold adds an extra chilly atmospheric dimension to the storytelling too. The characterisation is very good, all are colourfully portrayed. The very name Harmon Ponds conjures up kinds of images for me!
Overall, the last part where it’s a rollercoaster raises the star rating to 4 as I particularly like the atmosphere the author creates and it’s clear they can create good characters and intriguing, different plots.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan/Picador for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I DEVOURED THIS!!!!!! can’t wait for everyone to read it
July 26, 2026
Green knocks it out of the park: the prose, the structure, the pacing, the characterization, the humor, the underlying moral vision, the emotional/psychological insight/depth! Highly recommended!
June 15, 2026
The last 1/3 of this book was a stunner of a novel. The hinges blew off and it went full throttle in a way that I really enjoyed. The Pond family was fully realized and I loved how each one of them felt unique in their own right. However, I do feel as though many readers are going to give up on this book as it is PAINFULLY slow until about the halfway mark. I found myself wondering why we were spending so much time with stories about each family member that didn’t seem to propel the story forward. It definitely sags a bit in the first half. For those who want to stick with it, the payoff of the ending is worth it, and the writing and plot settings are impeccable. I enjoyed this one, just wish it hooked me sooner.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
solid thriller that once it gets going really goes. spent a lot of time on a wide cast of characters— would’ve benefitted from narrowing in on pauline and harmon even more, but did enjoy the sibling dynamics
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Record Lows is a book about a family of five caught up in the small town dynamics of day-to-day struggles of life where everyone is carrying their own secrets that impact how they engage with one another. In the background, a record-breaking blizzard is happening, almost taking on a character role throughout the telling of this story.
The book introduces the reader to each family member with their own chapter initially, which is an approach I appreciated because of how it allowed me to better remember the different people that were part of the story, including those not within the immediate main character family.
With snow already on the ground and a blizzard on the way, the two younger children that still live at home are having their own social struggles at school, the older daughter is having a relationship that she’s keeping from her family, and each of the parents have big secrets that they have justified keeping to themselves for different reasons. The family has seemed to fall into a routine that has each of them feeling isolated, unappreciated, or misunderstood.
As the weather worsens, the case of a recently missing police officer becomes more prominent. An investigation takes place, and some questions are raised regarding the possibility of some of the family members having knowledge of where he might be.
This is a great family drama novel with well-developed characters and an atmospheric plot line. The blizzard of 1977 that occurred in Buffalo, New York was a real occurrence during which this writing is set. I felt that the story was well paced, the descriptions of the snow, the temperatures, and the effects of the weather made the story feel even more immersive. I think the emotional reactions the characters have to some of the events that take place were realistic and helped place the reader in the moment.
This style of writing, the story line, and the paced unfolding of the plot are all right up my alley.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and CJ Green for the advanced readers copy of this wonderfully crafted book. All opinions here are my own.
The book introduces the reader to each family member with their own chapter initially, which is an approach I appreciated because of how it allowed me to better remember the different people that were part of the story, including those not within the immediate main character family.
With snow already on the ground and a blizzard on the way, the two younger children that still live at home are having their own social struggles at school, the older daughter is having a relationship that she’s keeping from her family, and each of the parents have big secrets that they have justified keeping to themselves for different reasons. The family has seemed to fall into a routine that has each of them feeling isolated, unappreciated, or misunderstood.
As the weather worsens, the case of a recently missing police officer becomes more prominent. An investigation takes place, and some questions are raised regarding the possibility of some of the family members having knowledge of where he might be.
This is a great family drama novel with well-developed characters and an atmospheric plot line. The blizzard of 1977 that occurred in Buffalo, New York was a real occurrence during which this writing is set. I felt that the story was well paced, the descriptions of the snow, the temperatures, and the effects of the weather made the story feel even more immersive. I think the emotional reactions the characters have to some of the events that take place were realistic and helped place the reader in the moment.
This style of writing, the story line, and the paced unfolding of the plot are all right up my alley.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and CJ Green for the advanced readers copy of this wonderfully crafted book. All opinions here are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
It’s the coldest winter on record, a snowstorm is on its way, and a man goes missing. He was last seen near the house of the Pond family and the police are looking for him.
This debut is more about family dynamics than it is a crime novel, but at the background there's a slow burn mystery. A very well written, funny, and sometimes over the top novel about a family's struggles and secrets that reminded me of 'The Bee Sting' and 'Lost Lambs.'
Thank you Pan Macmillan for the ARC.
This debut is more about family dynamics than it is a crime novel, but at the background there's a slow burn mystery. A very well written, funny, and sometimes over the top novel about a family's struggles and secrets that reminded me of 'The Bee Sting' and 'Lost Lambs.'
Thank you Pan Macmillan for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, Pan Macmillan, for a copy of Record Lows by C J Green.
I really wanted to like this. I was intrigued by the blurb of a missing persons case in 1977, Oneria, New York. But I don’t think I am the targeted audience for this type of work.
Yes, it is well written, but I struggled with this all the way through. The case of the missing person seemed to be lost in the story of family dynamics, and I found it for me personally slow. So, slow when it started getting interesting which took to the last third of the book. I lost interest. 2.5 stars from me.
I really wanted to like this. I was intrigued by the blurb of a missing persons case in 1977, Oneria, New York. But I don’t think I am the targeted audience for this type of work.
Yes, it is well written, but I struggled with this all the way through. The case of the missing person seemed to be lost in the story of family dynamics, and I found it for me personally slow. So, slow when it started getting interesting which took to the last third of the book. I lost interest. 2.5 stars from me.
October 15, 2026
I was excited to dive into this book and for good reason. Many parts of it lived up to the hype of the synopsis. I loved how each family member was involved and had their own telling. I will say it was a bit hard to get into in the beginning because some parts didn’t connect exactly for me with some in depth stories of the son and daughter (Fran) and j wasn’t totally sure how they connected. But all in all this was a good read!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Set in Buffalo during the blizzard of 1977, Record Lows is a slow burn family drama that ramps up in the second half and hits like an explosive storm.
Harmond and his wife Pauline are struggling to make ends meet and raise their three children when past relationships surface forcing all of them to take drastic measures to protect their family and maintain secrets from the past. It was interesting to see how each member of the family justifies their behavior through religion and settling old scores. It also makes you wonder how well you really know your family.
The characters were well developed and CJ Green descriptions of the 1970’s Buffalo was spot on having grown up in the area during that time period.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Harmond and his wife Pauline are struggling to make ends meet and raise their three children when past relationships surface forcing all of them to take drastic measures to protect their family and maintain secrets from the past. It was interesting to see how each member of the family justifies their behavior through religion and settling old scores. It also makes you wonder how well you really know your family.
The characters were well developed and CJ Green descriptions of the 1970’s Buffalo was spot on having grown up in the area during that time period.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Record Lows” by C.J. Green is an impressive debut. It is darkly atmospheric and the landscape, including the historic blizzard of Buffalo, NY in 1977, take on the depth and complexity of a character in the novel. The temperatures are hitting record lows in the town of Oneira, New York. So are the people. “Record Lows” is part missing persons mystery and part exploration of the complexity of family relationships. Harmon and Pauline, Theresa, Frances, and Lonnie Pond all have secrets, jealousies, and hurts they hold close. Huddled in their pain they struggle to reach out and find each other. Their secrets serve to bind them together, even as they tear the family apart. The tension is complex and heavy as the snow drifting uneasily across the lake and the wind gasping for release, waiting for the moment when it will break free. In some ways this book reads more like a “what would you do” than a “who done it”. There are deaths and storms and plenty of questionable decisions. The characters discover themselves to be complicit. Yet, in many ways, they are also innocent. There are layers and drifts, slippery situations, and strange occurrences. Green’s first sentence tells the reader a lot about what to expect. He begins the novel by informing us, “That time of year was never fully light, though it was never fully dark either.”
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Book Group for access to this ARC. This is my honest and independent review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Book Group for access to this ARC. This is my honest and independent review.
September 24, 2026
An apparent ordinary family life that unfolds in mystery.
The author sets the story in the seventies as he tells us about an Italian-American family.
The father, Harm, is a writer at his self-owned paper called The Voice. He met his wife, Pauline, at a young age, and they had their
family on the way soon after. In their thirties, they have three children, Teresa, Frances, and Lonnie.
Their lives are what we might find ordinary, filled with financial struggles and keeping the past in the past.
At least that’s their mother’s primary focus, as her Italian family was close to the local mob.
She did her best to keep that part out of her life and her self-made family's knowledge.
Until the day a cop vanishes into thin air, someone she knew from before.
As the local police look into this, her acquaintance with him resurfaces, and it won’t be the only thing re-emerging.
How well do we know the people we think we know best? Do we pay attention as we should?
Questions will come to mind while reading this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me this opportunity.
The author sets the story in the seventies as he tells us about an Italian-American family.
The father, Harm, is a writer at his self-owned paper called The Voice. He met his wife, Pauline, at a young age, and they had their
family on the way soon after. In their thirties, they have three children, Teresa, Frances, and Lonnie.
Their lives are what we might find ordinary, filled with financial struggles and keeping the past in the past.
At least that’s their mother’s primary focus, as her Italian family was close to the local mob.
She did her best to keep that part out of her life and her self-made family's knowledge.
Until the day a cop vanishes into thin air, someone she knew from before.
As the local police look into this, her acquaintance with him resurfaces, and it won’t be the only thing re-emerging.
How well do we know the people we think we know best? Do we pay attention as we should?
Questions will come to mind while reading this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me this opportunity.
October 14, 2026
Took me talking to Molly to realize I misunderstood the ending completely but thank GOD cause I would’ve been so sad by what I thought happened but this was so amazing!!!
Such good writing, really well written and literary without it being truly bleak and just such a great portrait of family and life itself. So good!!
Such good writing, really well written and literary without it being truly bleak and just such a great portrait of family and life itself. So good!!
Want to Read
June 4, 2026thank you grand central for the arc!! can't wait to get to this one <3
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A nice little story about a couple who got pregnant in their teens, married shortly after, and are still married with three children, living the American middle-class(ish) dream. The end.
Oops. Nope. Wait! There is also a massive blizzard coming. And a missing police officer who may or may not have some shady ties. And maybe, just maybe . . . there are A LOT of secrets this family is keeping from outsiders and from each other.
I want to make it clear that while there is a bit of a mystery here, this isn’t really a thriller. It’s more atmospheric and character driven, which could make the pacing seem slow if you’re expecting a fast-paced thriller.
While this really ramps up towards the end, what I enjoyed the most was getting to know the characters layer-by-layer through flashbacks, memories, and self-revelations. I was hungry for even more character moments. As this focuses on each member of the family and is split into different sections, there is a little information devoted to many rather than a lot information devoted to one or two.
These character discoveries could feel a little disruptive as the pacing sped up, however, so I maybe would have preferred them to be inserted elsewhere/in a different order. They aren’t necessarily jaw-dropping revelations but are instead a way to understand the past, present, and possibly future motivations of each family member (some more than others) and how these events have affected their relationships with others. These revelations contribute to the plot some, but they mostly just add some depth to characters that seemed fairly “surface” at the beginning of the book. This worked for me as I love a character-driven story.
The blizzard is like a character hovering in the background, and I LOVED IT. This was the perfect thing to be swirling around as everything unfolded. Like the characters, a blizzard is capable of covering and hiding things beneath and then uncovering and revealing. It was effective to use it not only as a background/setting but also necessary to the plot. I was not familiar with the Buffalo Blizzard of ’77 prior to reading this, so I found it interesting that the blizzard in the book was based on an actual natural disaster event and looked up more information on it after reading. I would have liked there to have been even more about the blizzard in terms of vivid descriptions to really have a grasp of the severity of the storm. I’m from Wisconsin, so I need a little push to believe a little snow is that bad.
I really enjoyed Green’s writing. It’s accessible, quite lovely and even a bit funny at times. I really loved the dialogue and the character interactions that felt both messy and genuine. The writing often feels like it is of the past, which works well with it being set in the 1970s. I hadn’t read closely regarding the blizzard when I started the book, however, so I was a little thrown off by some of the dialogue at first because it sounded a bit “old-fashioned.” Once I looked to find the time-period, this made sense (and the authenticity was much appreciated!). I do wish that there had been additional references to the late 70s – clothes, hairstyle, pop-culture (ok . . . ABBA’s SOS was in there) to really stick me in there, but I’m just nit-picking now.
This was a great debut, and I’m looking forward to reading more CJ Green down the road.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing | Cardinal for providing me with a digital ARC of this book so I could pretend to be freezing in a blizzard instead of sweating it out in this hellish humidity we’ve been having.
4 Stars
Oops. Nope. Wait! There is also a massive blizzard coming. And a missing police officer who may or may not have some shady ties. And maybe, just maybe . . . there are A LOT of secrets this family is keeping from outsiders and from each other.
I want to make it clear that while there is a bit of a mystery here, this isn’t really a thriller. It’s more atmospheric and character driven, which could make the pacing seem slow if you’re expecting a fast-paced thriller.
While this really ramps up towards the end, what I enjoyed the most was getting to know the characters layer-by-layer through flashbacks, memories, and self-revelations. I was hungry for even more character moments. As this focuses on each member of the family and is split into different sections, there is a little information devoted to many rather than a lot information devoted to one or two.
These character discoveries could feel a little disruptive as the pacing sped up, however, so I maybe would have preferred them to be inserted elsewhere/in a different order. They aren’t necessarily jaw-dropping revelations but are instead a way to understand the past, present, and possibly future motivations of each family member (some more than others) and how these events have affected their relationships with others. These revelations contribute to the plot some, but they mostly just add some depth to characters that seemed fairly “surface” at the beginning of the book. This worked for me as I love a character-driven story.
The blizzard is like a character hovering in the background, and I LOVED IT. This was the perfect thing to be swirling around as everything unfolded. Like the characters, a blizzard is capable of covering and hiding things beneath and then uncovering and revealing. It was effective to use it not only as a background/setting but also necessary to the plot. I was not familiar with the Buffalo Blizzard of ’77 prior to reading this, so I found it interesting that the blizzard in the book was based on an actual natural disaster event and looked up more information on it after reading. I would have liked there to have been even more about the blizzard in terms of vivid descriptions to really have a grasp of the severity of the storm. I’m from Wisconsin, so I need a little push to believe a little snow is that bad.
I really enjoyed Green’s writing. It’s accessible, quite lovely and even a bit funny at times. I really loved the dialogue and the character interactions that felt both messy and genuine. The writing often feels like it is of the past, which works well with it being set in the 1970s. I hadn’t read closely regarding the blizzard when I started the book, however, so I was a little thrown off by some of the dialogue at first because it sounded a bit “old-fashioned.” Once I looked to find the time-period, this made sense (and the authenticity was much appreciated!). I do wish that there had been additional references to the late 70s – clothes, hairstyle, pop-culture (ok . . . ABBA’s SOS was in there) to really stick me in there, but I’m just nit-picking now.
This was a great debut, and I’m looking forward to reading more CJ Green down the road.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing | Cardinal for providing me with a digital ARC of this book so I could pretend to be freezing in a blizzard instead of sweating it out in this hellish humidity we’ve been having.
4 Stars
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5/5
Thank you NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author CJ Green for gifting me with this ARC to review!
Liked:
-bad decisions and secret keeping makes for one dysfunctional family.
Harmon is the editor/owner of a failing newspaper and took a loan from a man that has mob ties (with no way to pay it back).
Pauline has secrets from her past that she’s had to carrying with her for her entire life and could rip her life apart if she told her family.
Lonnie is secret organizing bets for the local football fight club.
Fran is a social pariah now after a teacher reads her “fictional” short story out to the entire class.
Teresa is secretly sleeping with her father’s childhood neighbor/friend who also happens to be a cop.
-horrible snow storm that wrecks havoc on the town. The blizzard really set the story up for a nice conclusion in my opinion. Everything reached a boiling point (freezing point?) when the storm finally hit and provided a convenient way for some characters to achieve the things they wanted.
Disliked:
-pacing was a bit slow to start. It took me a bit to actually start getting into the book. But once it started picking up I was invested and eager to see how everything was going to work out for the Pond family.
Thank you NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author CJ Green for gifting me with this ARC to review!
Liked:
-bad decisions and secret keeping makes for one dysfunctional family.
Harmon is the editor/owner of a failing newspaper and took a loan from a man that has mob ties (with no way to pay it back).
Pauline has secrets from her past that she’s had to carrying with her for her entire life and could rip her life apart if she told her family.
Lonnie is secret organizing bets for the local football fight club.
Fran is a social pariah now after a teacher reads her “fictional” short story out to the entire class.
Teresa is secretly sleeping with her father’s childhood neighbor/friend who also happens to be a cop.
-horrible snow storm that wrecks havoc on the town. The blizzard really set the story up for a nice conclusion in my opinion. Everything reached a boiling point (freezing point?) when the storm finally hit and provided a convenient way for some characters to achieve the things they wanted.
Disliked:
-pacing was a bit slow to start. It took me a bit to actually start getting into the book. But once it started picking up I was invested and eager to see how everything was going to work out for the Pond family.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A snowstorm, a family with money problems, and a past that finally catches up with one of them—this was definitely the perfect storm!
Record Lows kept me intrigued from beginning to end. These characters end up in such a mess that I couldn’t stop reading because I just had to know how they were going to get themselves out of it. There were plenty of twists and secrets that kept me guessing, and I loved the tension as everything slowly unraveled.
I also got a little bit of Fargo vibes from this one, which definitely added to the fun for me. A suspenseful, messy, entertaining read that I really enjoyed!
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Record Lows kept me intrigued from beginning to end. These characters end up in such a mess that I couldn’t stop reading because I just had to know how they were going to get themselves out of it. There were plenty of twists and secrets that kept me guessing, and I loved the tension as everything slowly unraveled.
I also got a little bit of Fargo vibes from this one, which definitely added to the fun for me. A suspenseful, messy, entertaining read that I really enjoyed!
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received a free advance review copy of Record Lows by C.J. Green, and this is my honest review.
Set in 1977 in Oneira, New York, during the infamous blizzard, this is a character-driven family drama centred around the Pond family. In my opinion, the blizzard itself becomes a character in its own right, creating a constant sense of tension and uncertainty throughout the novel.
This is very much a slow-burn story, which I really enjoyed. The gradual pace allows each of the characters to develop naturally, giving us time to understand their motivations, relationships, and personal struggles. The slow burn pays off as the story gradually intensifies, building layer upon layer of tension. As long held secrets emerge, the characters slowly begin to unravel, making it increasingly difficult to put the book down.
The novel is told across two timelines and explores themes including violence, resilience, financial hardship, secrecy, corruption, ambition, marriage, and family relationships.
C.J. Green's writing is beautifully atmospheric, bringing both the harsh winter landscape and the emotional lives of the characters vividly to life. If you enjoy immersive, character-driven novels with a creeping sense of suspense, I'd definitely recommend Record Lows.
Set in 1977 in Oneira, New York, during the infamous blizzard, this is a character-driven family drama centred around the Pond family. In my opinion, the blizzard itself becomes a character in its own right, creating a constant sense of tension and uncertainty throughout the novel.
This is very much a slow-burn story, which I really enjoyed. The gradual pace allows each of the characters to develop naturally, giving us time to understand their motivations, relationships, and personal struggles. The slow burn pays off as the story gradually intensifies, building layer upon layer of tension. As long held secrets emerge, the characters slowly begin to unravel, making it increasingly difficult to put the book down.
The novel is told across two timelines and explores themes including violence, resilience, financial hardship, secrecy, corruption, ambition, marriage, and family relationships.
C.J. Green's writing is beautifully atmospheric, bringing both the harsh winter landscape and the emotional lives of the characters vividly to life. If you enjoy immersive, character-driven novels with a creeping sense of suspense, I'd definitely recommend Record Lows.
August 27, 2026
This might be my top read of the entire year. This is a beautiful literary fiction about a seemingly normal family in upstate New York. Unlike many literary fiction books, the plot in this book is amazingly fast paced without losing any of the depth of character development. This is a stunning book. I’m definitely buying a hard cover of this book when it is released.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 CJ Green’s debut novel is a combination of literary fiction, thriller, with some humor. His description of the brutal winter blizzard is one of the best I’ve read. Record Lows is filled with secrets, lots of family drama, messy lives, and some mob ties thrown in for good measure! While it started with a slower pace, which may turn off some readers, I loved the detailed character narratives, steady increase of tension, and explosive back half!
Record Lows hits shelves in January 2027 and will be the perfect read for a cold and dark winter weekend! Preorder or get on your library waitlist now! You’ll especially appreciate the atmosphere if you’re a fellow Gen Xer and remember the winter of 1977 quite well!
Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author for the advanced digital copy of this book.
Record Lows hits shelves in January 2027 and will be the perfect read for a cold and dark winter weekend! Preorder or get on your library waitlist now! You’ll especially appreciate the atmosphere if you’re a fellow Gen Xer and remember the winter of 1977 quite well!
Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and the author for the advanced digital copy of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This literary fiction book reads like a complex crime drama and I couldn’t put it down. The characters resonated with me in their own ways and I was very invested in them. The overall plot was genius. The book was fast paced but not overwhelmingly so and as more information comes out as the story goes on, I was so intrigued. With themes of secrets, corruption, moral dilemmas, and marital strife this book was beautifully done. I will definitely be reading this book again and again! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Record Lows
is the second book in the last week that I originally picked up due to the stunning cover and stayed around because of the fantastic storytelling. CJ Green crafts a gripping story about ordinary people with seemingly ordinary problems that end up being a bit more than expected. I judged a book by its cover and am sure glad I did.
It’s 1977 and in the town of Oneira, New York, a blizzard is gathering force…
Harmon Pond, editor-in-chief of the local newspaper, is struggling to keep afloat amid mounting debt and vanishing ad revenue. So when the creditor who’s been secretly funding him vanishes without a trace, Harmon thinks it’s his lucky break. Meanwhile, his eldest daughter, Teresa—the paper’s ambitious intern—sees a story that could make her name.
But for Harmon’s devout Italian American wife, Pauline, the disappearance stirs up memories of a childhood she has tried hard to put behind her, and secrets she would prefer to keep buried.
With the parents tangled in their own concerns and Teresa relentlessly searching for answers, no one notices that middle-child Fran has developed a habit of sneaking out at night, and Lonnie, the youngest, is taking dangerous risks of his own.
As the manhunt intensifies, and the snowstorm builds into one of the worst in history, the Pond family must find a way to accept the truth, and each other, before they lose themselves forever.
Like most families, Record Lows feature a dysfunctional one. We all think that we have things put together and are making it, until we aren't and things go sideways. However, most of us don't have it go the way Harmon Pond's does in Green's novel. This is what made it special. Seemingly ordinary people with seemingly ordinary problems...key word...seemingly.
While it might be possible for a story such as this to be set anytime, including present day, setting this story in the 1970s felt almost necessary. A fitting choice as it made the story hit a bit harder. This is in addition to the cold feeling the story has, only exacerbated by the fact a blizzard is brewing which adds a bit of tension and unsettling nature to the book.
Record Lows takes a but of stamina to read, as it takes to midway through the story for things really to start to explode. Having the willingness to be patient and wait turned into something truly worthwhile. The first portion of Record Lows is there to serve as a place for us to get to know these characters, developing them into those that we care for and can connect with even further. Seriously, the second half does not let up.
Green makes you look at your own life and how well we think we know those around us each and every day. We may not be fully understand those around you or even see them as we maybe should. Not just secrets, but who they are as people. It always makes a story have a bit more impact, even one with dark humor such as this, when it makes you look inward. The moments of levity are well timed and blend into the gripping story with ease.
Author CJ Green kicks things off right with his this debut novel, Record Lows . An easy-to-read story that pulls you in with great prose, well timed dark humor, and a dysfunctional family you can't help but cheer for in the end. Record Lows grabbed me with its cover, but kept be around with wonderful storytelling.
Record Lows hits bookstores everywhere on January 5, 2027 from Cardinal Publishing. The audiobook, narrated by Rob Shapiro, is available via Libro.fm!
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Record Lows from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
It’s 1977 and in the town of Oneira, New York, a blizzard is gathering force…
Harmon Pond, editor-in-chief of the local newspaper, is struggling to keep afloat amid mounting debt and vanishing ad revenue. So when the creditor who’s been secretly funding him vanishes without a trace, Harmon thinks it’s his lucky break. Meanwhile, his eldest daughter, Teresa—the paper’s ambitious intern—sees a story that could make her name.
But for Harmon’s devout Italian American wife, Pauline, the disappearance stirs up memories of a childhood she has tried hard to put behind her, and secrets she would prefer to keep buried.
With the parents tangled in their own concerns and Teresa relentlessly searching for answers, no one notices that middle-child Fran has developed a habit of sneaking out at night, and Lonnie, the youngest, is taking dangerous risks of his own.
As the manhunt intensifies, and the snowstorm builds into one of the worst in history, the Pond family must find a way to accept the truth, and each other, before they lose themselves forever.
Like most families, Record Lows feature a dysfunctional one. We all think that we have things put together and are making it, until we aren't and things go sideways. However, most of us don't have it go the way Harmon Pond's does in Green's novel. This is what made it special. Seemingly ordinary people with seemingly ordinary problems...key word...seemingly.
While it might be possible for a story such as this to be set anytime, including present day, setting this story in the 1970s felt almost necessary. A fitting choice as it made the story hit a bit harder. This is in addition to the cold feeling the story has, only exacerbated by the fact a blizzard is brewing which adds a bit of tension and unsettling nature to the book.
Record Lows takes a but of stamina to read, as it takes to midway through the story for things really to start to explode. Having the willingness to be patient and wait turned into something truly worthwhile. The first portion of Record Lows is there to serve as a place for us to get to know these characters, developing them into those that we care for and can connect with even further. Seriously, the second half does not let up.
Green makes you look at your own life and how well we think we know those around us each and every day. We may not be fully understand those around you or even see them as we maybe should. Not just secrets, but who they are as people. It always makes a story have a bit more impact, even one with dark humor such as this, when it makes you look inward. The moments of levity are well timed and blend into the gripping story with ease.
Author CJ Green kicks things off right with his this debut novel, Record Lows . An easy-to-read story that pulls you in with great prose, well timed dark humor, and a dysfunctional family you can't help but cheer for in the end. Record Lows grabbed me with its cover, but kept be around with wonderful storytelling.
Record Lows hits bookstores everywhere on January 5, 2027 from Cardinal Publishing. The audiobook, narrated by Rob Shapiro, is available via Libro.fm!
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Record Lows from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Gripping, atmospheric and darkly funny, ‘Record Lows’ by CJ Green is a slow-burn literary thriller about the perfect storm of one family’s secrets, set against the backdrop of the 1977 Buffalo blizzard. In terms of atmosphere and its portrayal of a dysfunctional family, it is reminiscent of Daniel Mason’s ‘Country People’ and Madeline Cash’s ‘Lost Lambs’, and it will appeal to readers who appreciate dark humour and deep character work.
One of the novel’s standout features is its setting. Green vividly captures the mood of a small upstate New York town as it braces for the historic blizzard, creating an atmosphere that is rich and immersive. It makes an ideal read for cold, dark, winter days—though perhaps not the best choice during the midsummer heatwave in which I happened to read it!
In line with the approaching storm, the narrative builds gradually, with steadily rising tension that culminates in a sudden, violent release. The pacing leading up to the climax is expertly handled, and the novel's greatest strength lies in its characters. They are deeply flawed, believable and compelling, with their histories and relationships unfolding naturally over the course of the story. Readers who enjoy literary fiction that prioritises character development and atmosphere over relentless action will find plenty to appreciate; however, those expecting a fast-paced, action-driven thriller may find the slower pace frustrating.
The pacing of the denouement is less successful. After such a strong climax, the story loses its momentum, and the final ten per cent feels more drawn out than necessary. Furthermore, the ending itself could have been clearer and more definitive. While I don’t mind a degree of ambiguity in literary fiction, the ending here didn’t quite land for me, feeling less like a deliberately open question and more as though the story stopped short of fully committing to a resolution. There are a couple of minor but jarring plot inconsistencies, too.
Even so, ‘Record Lows’ is an impressive debut that successfully blends literary fiction with psychological suspense. Despite some pacing issues in its final act, it's a rewarding read for anyone who enjoys atmospheric, character-driven novels, and CJ Green is undoubtedly an author to watch.
Many thanks to NetGalley, CJ Green, and Picador for the ARC.
⚠️ Miscarriage, blood, murder, injury detail, violence, references to domestic violence and rape
One of the novel’s standout features is its setting. Green vividly captures the mood of a small upstate New York town as it braces for the historic blizzard, creating an atmosphere that is rich and immersive. It makes an ideal read for cold, dark, winter days—though perhaps not the best choice during the midsummer heatwave in which I happened to read it!
In line with the approaching storm, the narrative builds gradually, with steadily rising tension that culminates in a sudden, violent release. The pacing leading up to the climax is expertly handled, and the novel's greatest strength lies in its characters. They are deeply flawed, believable and compelling, with their histories and relationships unfolding naturally over the course of the story. Readers who enjoy literary fiction that prioritises character development and atmosphere over relentless action will find plenty to appreciate; however, those expecting a fast-paced, action-driven thriller may find the slower pace frustrating.
The pacing of the denouement is less successful. After such a strong climax, the story loses its momentum, and the final ten per cent feels more drawn out than necessary. Furthermore, the ending itself could have been clearer and more definitive. While I don’t mind a degree of ambiguity in literary fiction, the ending here didn’t quite land for me, feeling less like a deliberately open question and more as though the story stopped short of fully committing to a resolution. There are a couple of minor but jarring plot inconsistencies, too.
Even so, ‘Record Lows’ is an impressive debut that successfully blends literary fiction with psychological suspense. Despite some pacing issues in its final act, it's a rewarding read for anyone who enjoys atmospheric, character-driven novels, and CJ Green is undoubtedly an author to watch.
Many thanks to NetGalley, CJ Green, and Picador for the ARC.
⚠️ Miscarriage, blood, murder, injury detail, violence, references to domestic violence and rape
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Anton Chekhov suggested that most people live the best part of their lives in secret. Now, thanks to CJ Green, we can see there are quite a few living the worst part of their lives in secret also. Green also seems to be suggesting that once secret-keeping is rooted in our daily existence, really very much like the roots of a great tree, its every branch knotted with lies, deceptions, and denials (including and especially self-denials, is there really any place for honesty anymore?
That's what the novel seems to be asking, as Green builds a story fraught with tension, frustration, and disappointment wrapped in a dark and eerie narrative of shifting perspectives. His main character, Pauline, after experiencing a personally catastrophic event, which she tries to forget as soon as it happens, then weaves herself into yet another personally catastrophic circumstance whose aftermath is a never-ending string of denials that lead her, now, in this moment of the great Buffalo blizzard, to a comedy of horrors wrapped inside impossible scenarios.
Well, you know, what would the world be like if everyone had the presence of mind and foresight and courage and
steely fortitude to always take the high road? Without the low road, what exactly would authors write about...that would keep us turning the pages quite the way CJ Green does?
As a comment about his style, CJ Green is a much-talented writer whose characters are like so many onions with so many layers, which he peels back to reveal the heart that's obscured by so many illusions. On his chosen topic,
I seem to want to quote Poe here. Something about darkness and red death holding illimitable dominion over all.
Congratulations CJ Green for your first novel! Already, I'm looking forward to reviewing your second.
--HR Novelton
That's what the novel seems to be asking, as Green builds a story fraught with tension, frustration, and disappointment wrapped in a dark and eerie narrative of shifting perspectives. His main character, Pauline, after experiencing a personally catastrophic event, which she tries to forget as soon as it happens, then weaves herself into yet another personally catastrophic circumstance whose aftermath is a never-ending string of denials that lead her, now, in this moment of the great Buffalo blizzard, to a comedy of horrors wrapped inside impossible scenarios.
Well, you know, what would the world be like if everyone had the presence of mind and foresight and courage and
steely fortitude to always take the high road? Without the low road, what exactly would authors write about...that would keep us turning the pages quite the way CJ Green does?
As a comment about his style, CJ Green is a much-talented writer whose characters are like so many onions with so many layers, which he peels back to reveal the heart that's obscured by so many illusions. On his chosen topic,
I seem to want to quote Poe here. Something about darkness and red death holding illimitable dominion over all.
Congratulations CJ Green for your first novel! Already, I'm looking forward to reviewing your second.
--HR Novelton
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Harmon Pond has not been successful in his life. Meeting Pauline at 16, she becomes pregnant and here he is 20 years later with 3 children; having got married so young his education never finished and he worked a manual job until an accident (and payoff) terminated that career, and after a bout of depression he began his own small newspaper, which relies mostly on local advertising so his wife has to clean houses to make ends meet. In the background always are the Mob, from Pauline's very Catholic childhood, who were at the heart of her neighbourhood and society, and who were behind Harmon successfully getting that payoff. But later when his money troubles threatened to swamp him, he was lent money by Geno, a local cop and member of a Family, and now Geno wants that money back. Enter the great storm of 1977, a true life event, and Geno goes missing. This brings the entire family into the realm of danger - Teresa the eldest, dating a Black cop who is the same age as her father, and who she has kept secret from her family - Fran next, a writer preparing for college who is clumsy in her social relationships and rebellious - Lonnie a teenager trying to find his own quiet way in life - and Bob, Pauline's brother who had a horrendous encounter with Geno's brother and father as a child that totally destroyed his life and future.
Geno's car is found but not his body, but his brother comes looking for him, and Pauline is forced to admit her children into a part of her life they would rather not know about, as the wall of snow descends on the State.
Well written, and the characters are well drawn and we can empathise with each of them. The story flags a little in the middle but picks up, and the atmosphere of cold wind and snow envelops the reader perfectly.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
Geno's car is found but not his body, but his brother comes looking for him, and Pauline is forced to admit her children into a part of her life they would rather not know about, as the wall of snow descends on the State.
Well written, and the characters are well drawn and we can empathise with each of them. The story flags a little in the middle but picks up, and the atmosphere of cold wind and snow envelops the reader perfectly.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had heard nothing about this book before reading, however the premise was so interesting that it hooked me immediately.
We’re following the Pond family in 1977 upstate New York in the midst of a historic blizzard. The man who was secretly funding editor Harmon Pond’s newspaper disappears, which initially seems like a lucky break, but then unravels a whole host of complicated secrets and histories within the Pond family.
I thought this was going to be a straightforward mystery, but boy was I wrong. The missing-person storyline is what initially pulled me in, but this was a character story at its core and what really kept me invested here. Every single character is dealing with something different, and I loved how we slowly revealed how each person’s choices and secrets were ultimately connected.
You never really know what you’re going to get with a debut, but I thought CJ Green’s writing was so sharp, witty, and darkly funny. The blizzard backdrop was extremely fitting to the story and builds with the growing tension with the family. It’s definitely a slow-burn type of story, but I think that’s what makes this a win for me. It’s not meant to be a “thrilling” mystery where you’re flipping the pages to figure out the plot twists, but one where you’re so invested in the characters, you’re willing to wait it out to see how everything will eventually burst and come back together. This read like God of the Woods if it took place in Fargo.
Overall, I thought this was a really impressive debut. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
We’re following the Pond family in 1977 upstate New York in the midst of a historic blizzard. The man who was secretly funding editor Harmon Pond’s newspaper disappears, which initially seems like a lucky break, but then unravels a whole host of complicated secrets and histories within the Pond family.
I thought this was going to be a straightforward mystery, but boy was I wrong. The missing-person storyline is what initially pulled me in, but this was a character story at its core and what really kept me invested here. Every single character is dealing with something different, and I loved how we slowly revealed how each person’s choices and secrets were ultimately connected.
You never really know what you’re going to get with a debut, but I thought CJ Green’s writing was so sharp, witty, and darkly funny. The blizzard backdrop was extremely fitting to the story and builds with the growing tension with the family. It’s definitely a slow-burn type of story, but I think that’s what makes this a win for me. It’s not meant to be a “thrilling” mystery where you’re flipping the pages to figure out the plot twists, but one where you’re so invested in the characters, you’re willing to wait it out to see how everything will eventually burst and come back together. This read like God of the Woods if it took place in Fargo.
Overall, I thought this was a really impressive debut. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Harmon and Paulina Pond, who became parents and were married at 16 barely knowing one another, are now 36 and have three children; Teresa, Fran and Lonnie.
Set in 1977, during a severe blizzard in upstate New York, Record Lows is a deeply moving portrayal of how one family slowly unravels as the past catches up with them.
This is a simple family tale of how one incident can spiral out of control and end up with the most unimaginable outcome possible. The novel switches between the present day and the teenage years of Harmon and Paulina, slowly setting the scene of how the characters lives are intertwined. The characters make frustrating choices, say the wrong things and hurt each other deeply; however, their moments of genuine connection feel incredibly earned and heartbreakingly real.
The pacing in the middle of the book sags just a little for me making this not quite a five-star review – I would place it at 3.5 to 4 stars. The slow burn pacing of the plot works very well to establish the mood but few chapters felt like they were stagnant rather than moving the emotional arc forwards.
Overall, Record Lows is a poignant look at resilience, grief and the messy reality of every day family life. I recommend this to anyone who appreciates character driven stories and fans of gritty emotional dramas.
Harmon and Paulina Pond, who became parents and were married at 16 barely knowing one another, are now 36 and have three children; Teresa, Fran and Lonnie.
Set in 1977, during a severe blizzard in upstate New York, Record Lows is a deeply moving portrayal of how one family slowly unravels as the past catches up with them.
This is a simple family tale of how one incident can spiral out of control and end up with the most unimaginable outcome possible. The novel switches between the present day and the teenage years of Harmon and Paulina, slowly setting the scene of how the characters lives are intertwined. The characters make frustrating choices, say the wrong things and hurt each other deeply; however, their moments of genuine connection feel incredibly earned and heartbreakingly real.
The pacing in the middle of the book sags just a little for me making this not quite a five-star review – I would place it at 3.5 to 4 stars. The slow burn pacing of the plot works very well to establish the mood but few chapters felt like they were stagnant rather than moving the emotional arc forwards.
Overall, Record Lows is a poignant look at resilience, grief and the messy reality of every day family life. I recommend this to anyone who appreciates character driven stories and fans of gritty emotional dramas.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Upstate New York in the winter of 1977 is no postcard. It is a freezer box trapping people inside their own tight spaces. In Record Lows by C J Green, the freezing cold outside mirrors the quiet inside the Pond household. Harmon Pond runs the local newspaper while drowning in debts. When his main creditor vanishes without a trace, Harmon mistakes his catastrophe for an easy break. Meanwhile, his family breaks down in silence: his reporter daughter chases a career headline, his wife hides behind religious silence, and his younger kids slip out into dangerous nights.
Green writes with zero decorative polish. The town feels heavy, frozen, forgotten. The narrative moves across family members, building a picture of collective denial. Nobody in this house listens. Everyone is too busy surviving their own small panic while a massive blizzard gathers force outside.
The narrative uses a slow pace that mimics falling snow. Green does not hurry, so character flaws hit directly. The middle act stalls slightly while the family circles their secrets, but that stillness fits the era and the setting. The structure, built on unsaid words, delivers a tight final act.
Read this if you like atmospheric family dramas with dark undercurrents and a cold sense of place. Skip it if you want quick answers or comfortable endings.
Green writes with zero decorative polish. The town feels heavy, frozen, forgotten. The narrative moves across family members, building a picture of collective denial. Nobody in this house listens. Everyone is too busy surviving their own small panic while a massive blizzard gathers force outside.
The narrative uses a slow pace that mimics falling snow. Green does not hurry, so character flaws hit directly. The middle act stalls slightly while the family circles their secrets, but that stillness fits the era and the setting. The structure, built on unsaid words, delivers a tight final act.
Read this if you like atmospheric family dramas with dark undercurrents and a cold sense of place. Skip it if you want quick answers or comfortable endings.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I went into this thinking the missing person case would be the main focus, but it ended up being much more about the Pond family and all the secrets they've been keeping from each other.
Every member of this family seems to have something going on, and I actually enjoyed watching all of those storylines slowly come together. The historic Buffalo blizzard was also a great backdrop. It added so much atmosphere and made everything feel even more tense as the story built toward the ending.
The biggest downside for me was the pacing. This is definitely a slow burn, and it took me a while to get invested. I found myself waiting for something to really pull me in, and that didn't happen until about halfway through. Once it did, though, I wanted to keep reading to see how everything would play out.
I wouldn't pick this up expecting a fast-paced mystery or thriller. It's much more of a family drama with a mystery woven into it. If you enjoy character-driven stories and don't mind a slower build, I think you'll appreciate this one more than readers looking for constant action.
Overall, I'm glad I stuck with it. The ending delivered, the family dynamics kept me interested, and I'm looking forward to seeing what CJ Green writes next.
Every member of this family seems to have something going on, and I actually enjoyed watching all of those storylines slowly come together. The historic Buffalo blizzard was also a great backdrop. It added so much atmosphere and made everything feel even more tense as the story built toward the ending.
The biggest downside for me was the pacing. This is definitely a slow burn, and it took me a while to get invested. I found myself waiting for something to really pull me in, and that didn't happen until about halfway through. Once it did, though, I wanted to keep reading to see how everything would play out.
I wouldn't pick this up expecting a fast-paced mystery or thriller. It's much more of a family drama with a mystery woven into it. If you enjoy character-driven stories and don't mind a slower build, I think you'll appreciate this one more than readers looking for constant action.
Overall, I'm glad I stuck with it. The ending delivered, the family dynamics kept me interested, and I'm looking forward to seeing what CJ Green writes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
By the time I got around to reading this book I had forgotten all the promotional blurb and thought I was simply reading a story about life in a small town in New York State set in the 70’s. I was enjoying the indepth characterisation of a relatively poor family with lots of secrets and emotional baggage. It seemed that the biggest excitement might be the exceptionally severe winter storm that was about to arrive.
Then there was a murder and it changed the whole pace and style of the book. It was no secret who had committed it but then the book becomes a case of will they get away with it and how many lies will have to be told to try and hide the secrets of the past. Add the arrival of extreme amounts of snow to the mix and things became tense.
The dysfunctional Pond family were powerfully brought to life and it was easy to squirm along with them when secrets from the past resurfaced to cause severe threats in the present. I liked the style of writing and even in the quieter first half of the book I had no problem enjoying the slow pace of the book as problems mounted for the Pond family.
Very easy to enjoy this book on several fronts.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.
Then there was a murder and it changed the whole pace and style of the book. It was no secret who had committed it but then the book becomes a case of will they get away with it and how many lies will have to be told to try and hide the secrets of the past. Add the arrival of extreme amounts of snow to the mix and things became tense.
The dysfunctional Pond family were powerfully brought to life and it was easy to squirm along with them when secrets from the past resurfaced to cause severe threats in the present. I liked the style of writing and even in the quieter first half of the book I had no problem enjoying the slow pace of the book as problems mounted for the Pond family.
Very easy to enjoy this book on several fronts.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC.
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