What do you think?
Rate this book
Pocketful of Bones
Finnegan MacGillivray, red-haired, freckle-faced social pariah, finds solace in his mother's garden, while she entertains "dates" in his home. When an accident takes the life of a friend, Finnegan buries the evidence amid the purple dead nettle and bougainvillea, and unearths a treasure trove of human remains. Did his house rest atop an ancient burial ground? Or was there a killer tucking him into bed at night? His fascination with bones grows as fast as his obsession with his mother. She rejects his advances, and he escapes to the other side of the country. Years later, he returns to his childhood home, to the secrets and the guilt and the bones — and to fulfil his destiny.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 21, 2017
633 people are currently reading
552 people want to read
About the author
Julie Frayn
12 books137 followersJulie Frayn pens award-winning novels and short stories that pack a punch. And a few stabs. When not working or writing, Julie spend as much time as possible with her babies. Well, they’re grown adults now, but they still think she’s cool. Right kids? Right? Hello?
In grade school, Julie was a math whiz, loved to write stories and poems in English class, and had an artistic flair for pencil drawings and pen and ink pointillism. When it came time to choose a career, she was torn between three loves. Her artistic brain ached to create. But her practical side, and the need to eat, won out. She devoted her career to numbers. She counts beans by day, but still revels in the written word.
In grade school, Julie was a math whiz, loved to write stories and poems in English class, and had an artistic flair for pencil drawings and pen and ink pointillism. When it came time to choose a career, she was torn between three loves. Her artistic brain ached to create. But her practical side, and the need to eat, won out. She devoted her career to numbers. She counts beans by day, but still revels in the written word.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 10, 2017
What I love the most about this book are the two main characters, Tibba and Finnegan. They are real, and complex, and have their mother-son secrets.
No. Strike that. What I love the most about this book is the slow building suspense over time, the dark crimes that intertwine their lives, with discovery a day away.
Nope. Not that either. What I love the most about this book is Finnegan the grown man, how he begins again at every setback, and his growing obsession.
Nope. Wrong again. I love the ending the most. That final word. I highly recommend that you read this great book all the way to the end. Then you'll know what I love the most about this book. It's one of the best.
No. Strike that. What I love the most about this book is the slow building suspense over time, the dark crimes that intertwine their lives, with discovery a day away.
Nope. Not that either. What I love the most about this book is Finnegan the grown man, how he begins again at every setback, and his growing obsession.
Nope. Wrong again. I love the ending the most. That final word. I highly recommend that you read this great book all the way to the end. Then you'll know what I love the most about this book. It's one of the best.
March 11, 2018
There is a seriously twisted family dynamic within these pages. Finnegan (Finny Mac to his mother,) has an unsettled childhood with an unconventional home life and being bullied at school. The years pass and the past always seems to remain in Finnegan's present due to his love of bones.
This is one of those books that is difficult to place in a genre, so I'm just going to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really liked Frayn's writing style and how the book was structured. The chapter titles hint at what will be in each one by using song lyrics or quotes. I particularly liked 'I'd challenge you to a game of wits, but I see you are unarmed.'
Both Finnegan and his mother hide aspects of themselves from each other. This often causes friction and puts a strain on their relationship. The truth isn't something that gets spoken about. They both prefer to bury it.
As I approached the end of the book I couldn't work out how everything would be brought together. How it did end was perfect. With the story going full circle and Finnegan getting some much needed karma.
This is one of those books that is difficult to place in a genre, so I'm just going to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really liked Frayn's writing style and how the book was structured. The chapter titles hint at what will be in each one by using song lyrics or quotes. I particularly liked 'I'd challenge you to a game of wits, but I see you are unarmed.'
Both Finnegan and his mother hide aspects of themselves from each other. This often causes friction and puts a strain on their relationship. The truth isn't something that gets spoken about. They both prefer to bury it.
As I approached the end of the book I couldn't work out how everything would be brought together. How it did end was perfect. With the story going full circle and Finnegan getting some much needed karma.
May 10, 2019
This is a very different type of story but has enough mystery and intrigue to keep one's interest. I raced through it within 24 hours !! I liked Finn's mum a great deal and she clearly adored her young son, despite her more unsavoury "habits." I really loved his friendship with his school-friend Birdie as well. It took a while before I realised where this was based as she didn't give us a clue for a long time. I'm no Shakespeare fan but I did enjoy how the quotes by him were set in among record titles. This one I really liked, "When I saw you I fell in love, and you smiled because you knew." How lovely.
She did keep on about the chesterfield too often. It almost became a character in its own right !!
This only lost the 5* because there are still too many mistakes in it that really should've been picked up, the same as another I read by her. She needs to invest in a good proofreader.
Things like clamoured and not clambered, ring not wring, too not to (!!), camoflage not camouflage, gamboled not gambolled, letch not lech, then there were also missed out or misplaced apostrophes and words dropped from sentences altogether, like the/a/he.....
I did like that the author is fluent however, in English, sarcasm and profanity.......good girl. I am as well. So sort your f***ing editing out !!
She did keep on about the chesterfield too often. It almost became a character in its own right !!
This only lost the 5* because there are still too many mistakes in it that really should've been picked up, the same as another I read by her. She needs to invest in a good proofreader.
Things like clamoured and not clambered, ring not wring, too not to (!!), camoflage not camouflage, gamboled not gambolled, letch not lech, then there were also missed out or misplaced apostrophes and words dropped from sentences altogether, like the/a/he.....
I did like that the author is fluent however, in English, sarcasm and profanity.......good girl. I am as well. So sort your f***ing editing out !!
February 12, 2018
Pocketful of Bones is a 342 page front to back read. Frayn’s skill as a storyteller leads to a narrative that flows with often painful beauty. We see a john abusing Tibba and we see her striking back and we know that this characters knows that she did what she had to do. We see Finnegan covering a tragedy and we know that though the moment is separate and years apart, he’s living the legacy of his mother. Frayn’s story is visceral. A boy and his mother going through the motions of life both with secrets but Finnegan’s secrets start to change in a way that become dark. The beauty of that moment, people; I cannot overemphasize the talent it takes. If you enjoy darkness and a little Norman Bates (without his cruel and manipulative mother) in your characters, you will melt into this work of outstanding artistry.
Pick Pocketful of Bones up today. Frayn is an author that never disappoints.
Pick Pocketful of Bones up today. Frayn is an author that never disappoints.
March 14, 2018
It is rare that I do not finish a book and yet I almost did not read this book to the end.
Finn and his mother live a very sad and troubled life. Mom brings home 'dates' at which
point Finn goes outside until the date leaves. Both Finn and Mom have difficulty socializing which
does not seem to get much better as time goes on (except for brief period where Mom gets
married and is happy). In fact as time goes on the story gets progressively darker and more
depressing with very little hope for either of the characters to live any kind of pleasurable
life. I kept reading the book hoping for some 'light at the end of the tunnel'. It never came.
By the end of the book I was so sad and depressed with the whole of the story I did regret
reading it to the end.
It may be for some readers; it simply was not for me.
Finn and his mother live a very sad and troubled life. Mom brings home 'dates' at which
point Finn goes outside until the date leaves. Both Finn and Mom have difficulty socializing which
does not seem to get much better as time goes on (except for brief period where Mom gets
married and is happy). In fact as time goes on the story gets progressively darker and more
depressing with very little hope for either of the characters to live any kind of pleasurable
life. I kept reading the book hoping for some 'light at the end of the tunnel'. It never came.
By the end of the book I was so sad and depressed with the whole of the story I did regret
reading it to the end.
It may be for some readers; it simply was not for me.
May 24, 2018
Deliciously creepy!!
What a way to claim a victory for the bullied and downtrodden...eww! Even with their miscreant deeds, your heart just has to ache a little for both Tibbia and Finnegan. Both characters were well fleshed out (pardon the pun!) as opposed to the remains of their victims. I spent the second half of the book - which I read in one night - trying to guess how this escapade could possibly end. Spoiler alert!! The ending is PERFECT!!
What a way to claim a victory for the bullied and downtrodden...eww! Even with their miscreant deeds, your heart just has to ache a little for both Tibbia and Finnegan. Both characters were well fleshed out (pardon the pun!) as opposed to the remains of their victims. I spent the second half of the book - which I read in one night - trying to guess how this escapade could possibly end. Spoiler alert!! The ending is PERFECT!!
February 18, 2018
I always look forward to a new Julie Frayn novel, and I think this story is my favorite so far. This novel about a mother and son and the secrets they keep is dark, enthralling, and so well written that it kept me up way past my bedtime for several nights. Very highly recommended.
March 26, 2021
Very solid writing. The author did such a good job of portraying a twisted sad life it was a little gut wrenching to read.
May 3, 2018
On tolerating ambiguity...
Senselessness often isn't. It's a truth this book explores beautifully, along with the intense ambiguities of familial ties and the etiology of obsession.
Senselessness often isn't. It's a truth this book explores beautifully, along with the intense ambiguities of familial ties and the etiology of obsession.
October 27, 2017
“She wasn’t a conventional mother. Not a cookie-baking, craft-making, costume-sewing, nurturing type of mother.”
While Tibba entertains “dates” in her home, her son Finny Mac finds comfort in his mother’s garden, much like his mother had when she would hide away from her abusive father as a child. The garden is an oasis of comfort, but under the flowering beds of annuals, perfectly manicured shrubs, perennials, and the purple dead nettle are carefully buried secrets, woven together by the roots of the plants above it.
When an accidental tragedy occurs and Finny buries the evidence in his mother’s beloved garden, he uncovers human skeletal remains. This discovery fuels a new obsession — a morbid fascination with bones and collecting them. It also triggers a newfound fascination for his mother, one that morphs from adoration to desire.
When I saw the cover for Pocketful of Bones floating around social media, I was immediately intrigued by not only the eye-catching design, but the title too. Being familiar with Julie Frayn’s writing style — her almost fantasy-like world building, dark humor, and edge-of-your-seat psychological suspense — I knew I would enjoy her latest, and once again, I was not disappointed!
The opening pages threw me into sensory overload, in the best of ways. Through Frayn’s descriptive writing, I imagined the garden setting and the comfort young Finnegan felt surrounded by his mother’s loving-tended-for garden. Being a garden enthusiast myself, I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the perennials, annuals, shrubs, and trees. This visual will stay with me, among my favorite reading memories. It’s scenes like these that fuel my love for reading.
I loved Finnegan and enjoyed experiencing the story through his perspective. It isn’t often that I can “get into” the POV from a male, nevertheless a child, and yet I loved living through his character. Of course, Finnegan ages throughout the book, and he isn’t a child for long, but still!
Pocketful of Bones is also told from the perspective of Finnegan’s mother. Tibba is a prostitute who finds comfort in gardening, cigarettes, and alcohol. Just as her life turns around for the better, it all comes crashing down on her. While she is flawed and not exactly mother-of-the-year, she is still lovable and her ups and downs made her all the more interesting.
The story is dark, suspenseful, at times funny, and even heart-breaking. The ending made me gasp out loud. To sum up my thoughts in one word: WOW.
Highly recommended and Free on Kindle Unlimited! 5/5 Stars
Full Book Review on A Well Read Woman Blog: https://awellreadwomanblog.wordpress....
While Tibba entertains “dates” in her home, her son Finny Mac finds comfort in his mother’s garden, much like his mother had when she would hide away from her abusive father as a child. The garden is an oasis of comfort, but under the flowering beds of annuals, perfectly manicured shrubs, perennials, and the purple dead nettle are carefully buried secrets, woven together by the roots of the plants above it.
When an accidental tragedy occurs and Finny buries the evidence in his mother’s beloved garden, he uncovers human skeletal remains. This discovery fuels a new obsession — a morbid fascination with bones and collecting them. It also triggers a newfound fascination for his mother, one that morphs from adoration to desire.
When I saw the cover for Pocketful of Bones floating around social media, I was immediately intrigued by not only the eye-catching design, but the title too. Being familiar with Julie Frayn’s writing style — her almost fantasy-like world building, dark humor, and edge-of-your-seat psychological suspense — I knew I would enjoy her latest, and once again, I was not disappointed!
The opening pages threw me into sensory overload, in the best of ways. Through Frayn’s descriptive writing, I imagined the garden setting and the comfort young Finnegan felt surrounded by his mother’s loving-tended-for garden. Being a garden enthusiast myself, I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the perennials, annuals, shrubs, and trees. This visual will stay with me, among my favorite reading memories. It’s scenes like these that fuel my love for reading.
I loved Finnegan and enjoyed experiencing the story through his perspective. It isn’t often that I can “get into” the POV from a male, nevertheless a child, and yet I loved living through his character. Of course, Finnegan ages throughout the book, and he isn’t a child for long, but still!
Pocketful of Bones is also told from the perspective of Finnegan’s mother. Tibba is a prostitute who finds comfort in gardening, cigarettes, and alcohol. Just as her life turns around for the better, it all comes crashing down on her. While she is flawed and not exactly mother-of-the-year, she is still lovable and her ups and downs made her all the more interesting.
The story is dark, suspenseful, at times funny, and even heart-breaking. The ending made me gasp out loud. To sum up my thoughts in one word: WOW.
Highly recommended and Free on Kindle Unlimited! 5/5 Stars
Full Book Review on A Well Read Woman Blog: https://awellreadwomanblog.wordpress....
March 14, 2018
Pocketful of Bones is a quiet story in the way Psycho and The Lottery are quiet. At least, that’s what I was thinking as I made my way through this marvelous and absorbing tale of villains, victims, and valentines. Maybe unsettling is a better description. One minute, someone is having a conversation, and the next, they are dead. And it’s hard to know where you stand with well-drawn characters like Tibba and Finny because, at times, someone can at a moment’s notice turn from victim to villain. And someone who you thought might be conniving turns out to be sweet and loyal.
For me, the best thing about the novel was, I really didn’t know what to expect. For the record, I’ve had my fill of serial killers. So, as the bodies piled up in Pocketful of Bones, I was surprised at the logic and—dare I suggest it?—the correctness of it. The story unfolds as though Fate itself were guiding mother and son to their inescapable destinies. And along the way, they planted the annuals. In short, they were born for this.
If you’re looking for a satisfying read that both perplexes and horrifies in a Canadian sort of way, I suggest you read this book. And remember: anyone is capable of murder; some see it as just another tool in the toolbox.
For me, the best thing about the novel was, I really didn’t know what to expect. For the record, I’ve had my fill of serial killers. So, as the bodies piled up in Pocketful of Bones, I was surprised at the logic and—dare I suggest it?—the correctness of it. The story unfolds as though Fate itself were guiding mother and son to their inescapable destinies. And along the way, they planted the annuals. In short, they were born for this.
If you’re looking for a satisfying read that both perplexes and horrifies in a Canadian sort of way, I suggest you read this book. And remember: anyone is capable of murder; some see it as just another tool in the toolbox.
March 22, 2018
Finnigan MacGillivray (say that three times fast) was raised by a single mother, a mother who conceived her son while working as a prostitute. Finnigan, or Finny Mac, as his mom used to call him, grows up to be one psychologically disturbed individual. How could he not? His mother was a serial killer, and he accidentally killed his best friend. But the garden Finnigan's mother kept in the back yard always looked great. Must be the fertilizer, huh?
.
Julie Frayn has written a fun little book about psychosis, a mother's love and forensic archaeology. The characters in this story are well crafted, and i enjoyed getting to know all of them. The story itself was quite unique, and Frayn kept the storyline moving along very nicely. This was one book I could not stop reading, and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.
.
My Rating: 4.25/5 stars
.
Julie Frayn has written a fun little book about psychosis, a mother's love and forensic archaeology. The characters in this story are well crafted, and i enjoyed getting to know all of them. The story itself was quite unique, and Frayn kept the storyline moving along very nicely. This was one book I could not stop reading, and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.
.
My Rating: 4.25/5 stars
March 14, 2018
I wish I wasn't the kind of person who had to finish every book I started! I kept hoping I would find some redeaming value, but it never happened. The characters are not likeable, the writing is superficial, the storyline is disturbing, and the ending is abrupt and disappointing. All I can say is glad I finally finished it!
May 26, 2018
They say there are only so many stories and, at a high level, I understand they’re right (whoever they are). But it’s the added detail that makes or breaks a story and gives it its unique flavor. In the case of Pocketful of Bones, I’m sure it fits one of those high-level templates, but it has so much in the details that isn’t like anything I can remember reading before that I can’t imagine what pattern it might fit. It’s a strange story that has me liking and pulling for characters that I could easily find repulsive, yet don’t, even when they do things that are … we’ll call them “not good.” Bad is going too far. (Okay, maybe I’m trying to cover for them here.) But I understand why they do what they do. I’m sure you would too.
In case it isn’t apparent, I liked this book, both the characters and the strange, out-of-left-field life that they lead. If you like slightly offbeat stories and psychological suspense, you should too.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
In case it isn’t apparent, I liked this book, both the characters and the strange, out-of-left-field life that they lead. If you like slightly offbeat stories and psychological suspense, you should too.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
July 11, 2018
A real page-Turner !
The main character, Finnegan, and his Mother the prostitute, are interesting in that they are horrible people, yet they draw you in. You feel sorry for them and even like them... sometimes. I really enjoyed reading this book because the suspense builds and you find yourself reading it well into the night!
The main character, Finnegan, and his Mother the prostitute, are interesting in that they are horrible people, yet they draw you in. You feel sorry for them and even like them... sometimes. I really enjoyed reading this book because the suspense builds and you find yourself reading it well into the night!
March 18, 2018
Extreme creepiness
I loved this book, although I’m not a fan of the profanity. I would not recommend it to most of my friends because of that. But if you overlook it, the story is so enthralling that I couldn’t put it down. There were so many twists and turns, and moments when you thought the characters would get caught. It was an excellent book. The author is gifted, and I look forward to more of her work.
I loved this book, although I’m not a fan of the profanity. I would not recommend it to most of my friends because of that. But if you overlook it, the story is so enthralling that I couldn’t put it down. There were so many twists and turns, and moments when you thought the characters would get caught. It was an excellent book. The author is gifted, and I look forward to more of her work.
March 10, 2018
I love a book with a plot that's unexpected.....and this one was perfectly unexpected! From the "potter's backyard" to a complex relationship between mother and son -- a grisly twist and a compelling story, I loved it from start to finish! I highly recommend this fascinating tale!
July 4, 2018
Wow! Pocketful of Bones is a page turner. I read it in one sitting. It's one of those book you just can't put down. Excellent writing. Not a word out of place. Highly recommended.
March 6, 2018
Enjoyable read. Interesting and kind of creepy!
March 2, 2018
Engaging and bizarre
This book has characters that are the nicest serial killers ever. Finnegan' s entire life is fascinating. childhood angst and regrets capped off by a living mother who is unusual, devoted and a prostitute. This story is carefully woven and I enjoyed it immensely.
This book has characters that are the nicest serial killers ever. Finnegan' s entire life is fascinating. childhood angst and regrets capped off by a living mother who is unusual, devoted and a prostitute. This story is carefully woven and I enjoyed it immensely.
March 2, 2018
Enthralling
At first, I wasn't sure that I liked this book but soon I was hooked and finished reading it in two days! The story line is enthralling and you can see how Finnegan becomes what he is through the loss of, first, his childhood innocence and then through the romantic disappointments and let downs of his adult life. The writing is excellent.
At first, I wasn't sure that I liked this book but soon I was hooked and finished reading it in two days! The story line is enthralling and you can see how Finnegan becomes what he is through the loss of, first, his childhood innocence and then through the romantic disappointments and let downs of his adult life. The writing is excellent.
March 3, 2018
I liked it sort of.
Creepy family fun. This is one messed up mom and son story. I mean seriously, this family is fucked up.
Creepy family fun. This is one messed up mom and son story. I mean seriously, this family is fucked up.
November 2, 2019
Weird
I have read a lot of weird stories and this one certainly qualifies as weird. A mother who kills men a son who accidentally kills his only friend as a young boy. He also collects bones and his mother buries the men she kills in her garden.
I have read a lot of weird stories and this one certainly qualifies as weird. A mother who kills men a son who accidentally kills his only friend as a young boy. He also collects bones and his mother buries the men she kills in her garden.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2018
Finnegan MacGillivray does not live the life of a normal kid. He lives with his single mom whose occupation is quite out of the norm. He spends many nights by himself in his mothers garden while she entertains her "dates". His only friend, Birdie, is an outcast as well and they spend most of their time together, even though her father does not approve of Finn's mom. An unfortunate accident ends the life of Birdie and Finnegan buries her in the garden only to find human bones. A lot of human bones.
Finnegan and his mother are interesting characters. Finn's morbid interest with human bones goes way pass just an interest. It becomes an obsession. For someone who doesn't know the human skeletal system, parts of the book may be hard to follow, although the author does do a fairly decent job explaining where some of the bones are located. Finn's guilt over Birdie's death follows him throughout his life and you can't help but feel sorry for him. The death of Finn's mom brings his obsession to a peak and the ending is not a surprise. The reader can see it coming.
This was a new author for me and I look forward to reading some of her other works.
Finnegan and his mother are interesting characters. Finn's morbid interest with human bones goes way pass just an interest. It becomes an obsession. For someone who doesn't know the human skeletal system, parts of the book may be hard to follow, although the author does do a fairly decent job explaining where some of the bones are located. Finn's guilt over Birdie's death follows him throughout his life and you can't help but feel sorry for him. The death of Finn's mom brings his obsession to a peak and the ending is not a surprise. The reader can see it coming.
This was a new author for me and I look forward to reading some of her other works.
December 17, 2018
The subject matter wasn't quite what put me off so much as the juvenile writing style and the characters themselves. I didn't see anything particularly redeeming or even a path of development for mother or son. You don't see them grow; they just simply exist and change if the author needs them to (gawky friendless Finnegan suddenly gets ripped and attractive to the point where women and men throw themselves at him; one act of self defense suddenly turns Tibba into a serial killer and one that never seems to be questioned despite these murders happening in her direct circle).
There is a definite Norman Bates/Psycho slant to the book, which never quite is adequately explained nor resolved. While I can appreciate the points of view of other reviewers who enjoyed this book, I just don't understand and didn't find this enjoyable in the slightest.
There is a definite Norman Bates/Psycho slant to the book, which never quite is adequately explained nor resolved. While I can appreciate the points of view of other reviewers who enjoyed this book, I just don't understand and didn't find this enjoyable in the slightest.
March 22, 2018
Creepy and well written... loved it!
At first this book seemed so implausible I wasn't sure I was into it... but then I realized the weirdness and unreal nature of the storyline was brilliant... it almost reminded me of Psycho. Definitely a suspenseful page turner and I think the author did a great job of making these characters real... my only complaint is the ending. That's always my main complaint lol, I can't stand it when a book just seems to abruptly stop when I want to KNOW how it all ends. It works for the tone of this book (it was obviously not gonna be a very happy ending) but I just wish it had given a slight glimpse of the future.
At first this book seemed so implausible I wasn't sure I was into it... but then I realized the weirdness and unreal nature of the storyline was brilliant... it almost reminded me of Psycho. Definitely a suspenseful page turner and I think the author did a great job of making these characters real... my only complaint is the ending. That's always my main complaint lol, I can't stand it when a book just seems to abruptly stop when I want to KNOW how it all ends. It works for the tone of this book (it was obviously not gonna be a very happy ending) but I just wish it had given a slight glimpse of the future.
October 9, 2019
😊
Like mother, like son? With an unconventional upbringing and banished to the back garden while his mother entertained dates, Finny Mac discovers a burial ground. Ancient or more recent? An accident results in his one and only best friend dying in the back garden where he buries her.
Written well with plenty back story to Tibbas background as a child and strained relationship with her mother and the eventual realisation she wouldn't treat her own child the same way to the point Finny becomes unhealthily interested in his mother. She rejects him and he moves away until the day he got a call telling of her death. He now has a Destiny to fill.
Like mother, like son? With an unconventional upbringing and banished to the back garden while his mother entertained dates, Finny Mac discovers a burial ground. Ancient or more recent? An accident results in his one and only best friend dying in the back garden where he buries her.
Written well with plenty back story to Tibbas background as a child and strained relationship with her mother and the eventual realisation she wouldn't treat her own child the same way to the point Finny becomes unhealthily interested in his mother. She rejects him and he moves away until the day he got a call telling of her death. He now has a Destiny to fill.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2018
Caught me from beginning to surprise ending.
Even though I didn't understand the descriptions of the bones, it didn't interfere with anything Ms. Frayn wrote in her novel. I read it in it's entirety in two sittings. What the hell was going to happen next? Oh my gosh, that really didn't happen, did it? Edge of your seat suspense. Physiologically challenging. Thank you, Ms. Frayn. Caught me from beginning to the surprise ending.
Even though I didn't understand the descriptions of the bones, it didn't interfere with anything Ms. Frayn wrote in her novel. I read it in it's entirety in two sittings. What the hell was going to happen next? Oh my gosh, that really didn't happen, did it? Edge of your seat suspense. Physiologically challenging. Thank you, Ms. Frayn. Caught me from beginning to the surprise ending.
June 28, 2018
I almost didn’t finish this book. I kept waiting for the ‘gotcha moment”! This is a story of a working mother and her son. Both ostracized, her because of her chosen profession and him because of his physical appearance. Both Tibba and Finny Mac are likable characters, I found myself rooting for them, despite their errant and strange ways, like Dexter or Hannibal. The ending just Ended, I turned the page, but that was it. Certainly not tied up with a pretty bow.
October 11, 2018
If Tibba and Finnegan didn't have bad luck, they wouldn't have any luck at all. So much bad stuff has happened to them that it seems appropriate that they should be excused for the terrible things they do, themselves. Hooker Mom and Bullied Son share a really weird family dynamic and a love of her garden. Her for the foliage, him for what's buried in it. The progression of the book chronicled Finn's childhood and ended up in his adulthood and I love how screwed up he became.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews