Game Of Secrets by Dawn Tripp, Book review

Publisher: Random House Trade Paperbacks

ISBN-13: 978-0812971484

Synopsis:

 Jane Weld was eleven years old when her father, Luce, disappeared in 1957. His skiff was found drifting near a marsh, empty except for his hunting coat and a box of shotgun shells. No one in their small New England town knew for sure what happened until, three years later, Luce’s skull rolled out of a gravel pit, a bullet hole in the temple. Rumors sprang up that he had been murdered by the jealous husband of his mistress, Ada Varick.

Now, half a century later, Jane is still searching for the truth of her father’s death, a mystery made more urgent by the unexpected romance that her willful daughter, Marne, has struck up with one of Ada’s sons. As the love affair intensifies, Jane and Ada meet for their weekly Friday game of Scrabble, a pastime that soon transforms into a cat-and-mouse game of words long left unspoken, and dark secrets best left untold.

My thoughts:

The resume above will stretch anyone's imagination and I felt the need, if only for a moment, to 'live dangerously'. 

Reading the first chapter led me however to understand this is not the usual fiction material for me. I confessed in the past historical novels are much more my preferred genre, but occasionally I like a 'whodunit' as in 'Inspector Poirot'. It is not the admit-able affable Mr. Poirot but rather the impeccable and classy settings and costumes which attracts me however.

But secrets are sure to stir up our imagination with countless configurations developing as we try to figure out what happens next...there lies the sole attraction...

Dawn Tripp is cleverly developing her story on a continuing series of Scrabble games. The words emerging from these innocuous games allows us to see each character in a definite frame. Love affairs, one, half a century old, mysteries and dire families secrets intertwines for the reader, each fragment another piece of the puzzle.

The author describes powerful emotions throughout the story and  there is an echoing of events of such starkness certain to appeal to some, just looking for a thrill. It reminded me of an electric storm, not to be dismissed!

I will not praise or criticize the author's writing skills. As a reviewer I am only sharing with readers my likes/dislikes.

'Game of Secrets' is a book some might enjoy but its very rawness left me in the end with a 'flat line'. 

It did not meet my expectations after all and I found the language offensive and totally unnecessary. 

Dawn Tripp has written two other novels: 'Moon Tide' and 'Season of Open Water'. 

For mature audience due to thematic contents. 
2 stars.

About the Author:

DAWN TRIPP graduated from Harvard and lives in Massachusetts with her husband and sons. Her essays have appeared on NPR and online at Psychology Today.

For more on this author please visit her website (here).

 

I received this book free from Sparkpoints Studio, LLC/ BOOKSPARKS as part of their blogger review program.

I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.