The Secret of Querencia

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Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

If it weren’t for bad luck, poor Emily Proudman would have no luck at all. She’s lost her temporary job, she didn’t get the acting gig she auditioned for, she’s been dropped by her agent, her parents won’t lend her any more money, and, because the rent check bounced [again], she’s evicted from her apartment.

But her former boss, Scott Denny, thinks she’s perfect to help his wife, Nina, on their French estate. Emily cannot believe her good fortune, especially when she sees the lovely estate and learns she will have the entire guest house to herself. As the days pass, she comes to consider herself part of the family, and she believes Nina and Scott feel that way, too.

But it isn’t long before Emily begins to suspect Nina is hiding something terrible, and she begins to have second thoughts about remaining at the isolated estate. Will Emily discover the secret of Querencia or will the secret claim her as its victim?

There’s a strong sense of place anchoring this suspenseful, atmospheric tale. Querencia is so well-crafted it becomes a character; Emily, Nina, Scott, and Aurelia are well-developed and nuanced; there’s an ever-building sense of tension that captures the reader and keeps the pages turning as rapidly as possible. Astute readers will guess the closely-guarded secret long before its reveal, but this does not detract from the percipient telling of this dark tale.

Almost two-thirds of the story is told from Emily’s point of view; the remainder from Scott’s viewpoint. Interspersed are pieces of backstory [memories?] that slowly reveal the closely-held secret shared by the husband and wife. There are times readers will find Emily exasperating, but as events unfold, she begins to put things together, discovering that she must be true to herself and be mature enough to face her problems.

Readers may find that more backstory would have helped them understand some of the characters' actions, particularly Juliet and Peter and the dynamics of their family. Why are they so estranged from their daughter?
Unfortunately, the much-mentioned plot point concerning Emily’s early life remains a mystery as the narrative concludes; with so much made of this within the story, disappointed readers are certain to find this lack of clarification particularly frustrating.
In addition, the unnecessary use of an offensive expletive is likely to be off-putting for many readers.

Recommended.