Smithereens

by Susan Taylor Chetak

This compelling novel, set once again in the heartland of America, pairs two unlikely friends in a dark tale of seduction and murder. It is May Caldwell's sixteenth summer, and life couldn't be more dull in Linwood, Iowa. Vaguely suicidal and haunted by half-remembered scenes from her early childhood, May is a girl waiting for her life to happen. And happen it does with the unexpected arrival of Frances Anne Crane, a.k.a. Frankie, a girl with too much past and nothing to lose. Together they seduce an older man as Frankie awakens all that May has been holding the mystery of her uncle Brodie's illicit past, the painful truth of her grandparents' slow dissolutions, and her own emerging sexuality. Where Frankie leads, May follows, and what's left is a murder no one can pin, a family's buried past resurfaced in a wild night of mayhem, and May's safe world blown to smithereens in this unforgettable tale of betrayal and desire."SMITHEREENS is lyrical, eerie and mysterious. Stephen King’s works are in the same genre, yet while King’s evil characters are in your face, Chehak’s leave you feeling as if a ghost might have run a finger down your back." —West Coast Review of Books"Vivid [and] intense. . . SMITHEREENS has brooding, ominous atmosphere, sexual awakening, loss of innocence, murder. It could be described as a gothic coming-of-age novel, but it's far too good to lend itself to any label. Susan Taylor Chehak is a meticulous writer, an evocative stylist whose mastery is evident on every page." —Boston Globe"Chehak is a very accomplished storyteller, always in control of her narrative, which moves ahead with grace and speed. But it's not only the plot that matters to this writer. It's the telling little details, particularly of teenage angst and of domestic life that makes the novel rich. . . SMITHEREENS is a novel fully worthy of the title thriller. It's hard to put down. It has a kind of dark allure." —The Los Angeles Times"[A] lyrically told story. . . The narrative surges back and forth like a nighttime tide via flashback, present events and foreshadowing, pulling the reader irresistibly along. That some teens yearn for both death and life is common knowledge; here, Chehak offers a compelling and revealing take on that disturbing truth." —Publisher's Weekly"What is best about SMITHEREENS is its intimate view of the volatile psychosexual bond that can exist between teenage girls, an intimacy often more dangerous than whatever sex they find. The novel is driven by frustrated lust and its familiar adolescent shoplifting and voyeurism, drinking and smoking. . . SMITHEREENS fits into a genre you might call 'bildungsroman noir,' whose logic is hormonal and whose brutal dramas unfold at night, in overheated confusion. . ."—The New York Times Book Review"Dark, disturbing and compelling, this is an astonishing read that shouldn't be missed."—Company (England)

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Allison Renner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Frankie Crane takes a small town by storm when she travels from Kentucky to Iowa to visit her "foster" family. Mrs. Caldwell sent donations to Frankie for seventeen years, so to who else would Frankie turn when she had nowhere to go? May Caldwell's life is forever changed when her "foster" sister shows up to stay for a summer. Drama ensues, and the premise was interesting and had potential, but was very slow to develop. Then, in half a breath, things escalated and the book was over. This was an instance of too much foreshadowing, hinting at the drama and darkness that had happened before the story started, and then when it was time for the big reveal, things fell flat. The writing style seemed to change at the end of the book as well, and it was a little difficult to follow the idea from the start of a sentence to the end. Kind of confusing, overall. I'm still not completely sure about what happened in the book, and in what order.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this years ago and it's stayed in my mind ever since. Excellent storytelling.

[Lisa Loving · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark and steamy, suspenseful, but wordy.

I enjoyed this story of a young girl’s coming of age into a darkly sinister world that lurks just beneath the sleepy middle class, Midwestern, mid century life she’s living. It’s clear that the author is talented, but this would have been more striking with a minimalist approach. Some observations are made, and made again, reworded and reworked, and played with until you just skip ahead a few passages.

Still, highly recommended.

[Abby Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would not call this a thriller. It's more of a coming of age story with some crime mixed in. Beautifully written, Chehak is a master of detail and master of the dream sequence of events. I loved the lyricism, and felt deeply connected to the main character, a lonely teenage girl, who becomes emotionally attached to a young woman in her twenties. Heartfelt. All of it.

[Taylor-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just absolutely love the way this book is written. The story is phenomenal on its own but the writing style alone is amazing. I hope to write like this someday.

[Jeff Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not that good - a synopsis is irrelevant. DNF at 48pp.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book.

Sixteen year old girl tells story of an 18 year old "foster sister" who comes to stay with her family. Unravels the story of her life, insights into the "sister". Tragic life, really. Uncle ?kills girlfriend?, shoots himself but survives, retarded. Girl and uncle's friend have a sexual encouter. . . statutory rape if not out-right non-consensual. "Sister" murders boyfriend, tries to hide by burning the body in girl's family's store's furnance, gas leak, store burns, uncle's friend inside. "Sister" runs away, girl goes on.

[Alissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't quite what I expected. I enjoyed it overall, but it was hard to get into. The pacing was rather slow at the beginning, and by the time the action began the book was over somewhat abruptly.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evocative prose, interesting story, great writing. No spoilers from me, I really liked this book.

[Whitney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It was reasonably well written, but should have not sold itself as a thriller. I found the utter lack of tension rather frustrating.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: two unlikely friends and a dark tale of seduction and murder in Iowa. May and Frances seduce an older man; it ends in murder.