I found this fair-condition ex-library softcover at a local Salvation Army thrift shop, and was intrigued by the title. Turns out it's a very odd novel, narrated by Wallis, an "improbably large" Kansas woman whose vocation involves crafting intricate miniature crime scenes (a la the real-life work of Frances Glessner Lee; see Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death). Wallis' interest in crime scenes began as a child, when a classmate went missing; other local children have gone missing as well, and there's an atmosphere of strangeness throughout.

I admit I didn't get caught up in the story despite all these fascinating quirks; its sometimes-surreal aspects took me out of the story, and for me it wasn't a success. But the setup and some of the early scenes were effective and surprising, and the whole thing's definitely unique.

I left this book in the Little Free Library on this warm, sunny day; hope someone enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

*** Released for the 2018 Mothers Day release challenge. ***

My first catch! Though I have to admit I cheated a little... I knew from poking around the site that there was a very prolific Bookcrosser in my state who drops off books in my area sometimes, so I knew there was a good chance there would be a book from them in one of the Little Free Libraries I visited today. Sure enough, I found this one at the LFL in Atlantic Heights, at Big Rock Park.

I'll read it, and then pass it on somewhere foreign and exciting when I go on a trip in August ;)

While I liked some of the individual bits ("Deliver My Darling from the Power of the Dog" was by far my favorite chapter), and the surface-level plot (a woman dealing with both grief over her brother, who went missing when they were children, and with the way she's viewed and treated because of her size) was interesting, this book as a whole just didn't work for me. See my full review here.

I'll be taking this with me on a trip in August, where hopefully it will find a reader who will appreciate it more!

Here in West Hartford, visiting an old professor of mine who's moved to the neighborhood. Hope someone finds and enjoys this book! (I ended up taking a different book to release on my August trip.)