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Mockingbird
Vanessa Hudson has two secrets. One is being transgendered, the other is assuming her twin sister's identity upon her sudden death. Her husband, Attorney General Martin Hudson is unaware of either. He is in a political battle for US Senate. Trial and tribulation preoccupy her life as circumstances arise which she has no control over. A ghost from her sister's past comes back to haunt and torment her as do other dramatic challenges. Will these secrets destroy her marriage, life and happiness? "MockingBird" takes you on a journey of drama and suspense that seem to dominate her life as it unfolds.
260 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 22, 2013
You know the old adage about never judging a book by its cover? Well, this is one of those instances where that adage can (and should) be extended to the first chapter. The novel opens with a significantly condensed tale of Vanessa Hudson’s all-too-convenient transition from male to female. It’s abruptly formulaic tale of twin siblings, tragic accidents, mistaken identities, and family wealth. To be honest, it was so clichéd, it left me questioning whether or not to continue. Fortunately, once that torrent of exposition is dispensed with, Marquez settles into a well-told, and completely compelling tale.
As the story beings, Vanessa finds herself struggling with dual fears of exposure. Although she has kept her transsexual identity a secret from most of the world – including her husband – the impending death of her personal surgeon has put her in a situation where she must trust somebody else with her identity. Compounding the risk involved is the fact that her husband is a man who can afford no secrets – not as Attorney General, and certainly not as a man battling for a seat in the US Senate.
While he may have been quick to establish her identity, Marquez does a superb job of exploring the first real challenge to Vanessa’s situation; making us feel the dread, the sorrow, and the sheer terror involved in the prospect of being exposed. It’s a story that really keeps you on a mental and emotional edge, especially with the introduction of friend who knew the ‘real’ Vanessa well. When it is finally revealed that the two women were not just close friends, but lovers, the situation gets increasingly complex. Not only does Marquez juggle the consequences of that revelation, but he does an admirable job of looking at sexual prejudice from an unusual angle, with Vanessa’s discomfort with her sister’s past making an already awkward situation potentially explosive.
Ultimately, what makes the story so interesting is the way in which Marquez parallels the themes of gender and sexuality. While Vanessa is struggling with personal questions of gender, her husband is struggling with professional issues of sexuality. As a staunch supporter of the LGBT community – who, ironically, has no suspicions as to his wife’s place in that community – Martin is unwilling to sacrifice his principles for political success.
As the story races to a conclusion, with new secrets and potential betrayals weighing Vanessa down from all angles, Marquez carefully brings all the threads together and crafts an entirely satisfying conclusion. While it did leave me with a few lingering questions, I quite appreciated the fact that he avoiding making the resolution of the story hinge upon some huge, shocking, public spectacle of revelation for Vanessa.
Despite an awkward beginning, this is a story that handles itself admirably, and with compassion. I still would have liked to know more about Vanessa’s past, to learn more about the struggles that compelled her to slip into her sister’s identity so easily, but it’s an excusable absence since this is less a story about fitting in, and more about survival after-the-fact.
Originally reviewed for Frock Magazine
As the story beings, Vanessa finds herself struggling with dual fears of exposure. Although she has kept her transsexual identity a secret from most of the world – including her husband – the impending death of her personal surgeon has put her in a situation where she must trust somebody else with her identity. Compounding the risk involved is the fact that her husband is a man who can afford no secrets – not as Attorney General, and certainly not as a man battling for a seat in the US Senate.
While he may have been quick to establish her identity, Marquez does a superb job of exploring the first real challenge to Vanessa’s situation; making us feel the dread, the sorrow, and the sheer terror involved in the prospect of being exposed. It’s a story that really keeps you on a mental and emotional edge, especially with the introduction of friend who knew the ‘real’ Vanessa well. When it is finally revealed that the two women were not just close friends, but lovers, the situation gets increasingly complex. Not only does Marquez juggle the consequences of that revelation, but he does an admirable job of looking at sexual prejudice from an unusual angle, with Vanessa’s discomfort with her sister’s past making an already awkward situation potentially explosive.
Ultimately, what makes the story so interesting is the way in which Marquez parallels the themes of gender and sexuality. While Vanessa is struggling with personal questions of gender, her husband is struggling with professional issues of sexuality. As a staunch supporter of the LGBT community – who, ironically, has no suspicions as to his wife’s place in that community – Martin is unwilling to sacrifice his principles for political success.
As the story races to a conclusion, with new secrets and potential betrayals weighing Vanessa down from all angles, Marquez carefully brings all the threads together and crafts an entirely satisfying conclusion. While it did leave me with a few lingering questions, I quite appreciated the fact that he avoiding making the resolution of the story hinge upon some huge, shocking, public spectacle of revelation for Vanessa.
Despite an awkward beginning, this is a story that handles itself admirably, and with compassion. I still would have liked to know more about Vanessa’s past, to learn more about the struggles that compelled her to slip into her sister’s identity so easily, but it’s an excusable absence since this is less a story about fitting in, and more about survival after-the-fact.
Originally reviewed for Frock Magazine
July 9, 2014
Fantastic read from beginning to end...
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews