Thanks to Catherine Sim of Simon & Schuster Canada, I am giving away one print copy of ‘Black Dog Summer’ by Miranda Sherry.
Book Description:
In this extraordinary debut novel reminiscent of The Lovely Bones and Little Bee, a mother watches from the afterlife as her teenage daughter recovers amidst the startling dysfunction of her extended family.
A small, bright thread of a story weaves out from the moment of my passing and seems to tether me to this place. Perhaps this is why I have not left yet. Perhaps I have no choice but to follow the story to its end.
Compulsively readable and stylistically stunning, Black Dog Summer begins with a murder, a farmstead massacre, in the South African bush. Thirty-eight-year-old Sally is but one of the victims. Her life brutally cut short, she narrates from her vantage point in the afterlife and watches as her sister, Adele, her brother-in-law and unrequited love Liam, her niece Bryony, and her teenage daughter, Gigi, begin to make sense of the tragedy.
A suspenseful drama focusing on marriage and fidelity, sisterhood, and the fractious bond between mothers and daughters, Black Dog Summer asks: In the wake of tragedy, where does all that dark energy linger? The youngest characters, Bryony and Gigi, cousins who are now brought together after Sally’s murder, are forced into sharing a bedroom. Bryony becomes confused and frightened by the violent energy stirred up and awakened by the massacre, while Gigi is unable to see beyond her deep grief and guilt. But they are not the only ones aware of the lurking darkness. Next door lives Lesedi, a reluctant witchdoctor who hides her mystical connection with the dead behind the façade of their affluent Johannesburg suburb.
As Gigi finally begins to emerge from her grief, the fragile healing process is derailed when she receives some shattering news, and in a mistaken effort to protect her cousin, puts Bryony’s life in imminent danger. Now Sally must find a way to prevent her daughter from making a mistake that could destroy the lives of all who are left behind.
Gorgeously written, with a pace that will leave readers breathless, Black Dog Summer introduces a brilliant new voice in fiction.
About Miranda Sherry:
Miranda Sherry was seven when she began writing stories. A few decades, numerous strange jobs (including puppeteer, bartender and musician), and many manuscripts later, her latest work, Black Dog Summer, is being published by Head of Zeus.
Her first novel, Days Like Glass, was shortlisted for the EU Literary Award in South Africa in 2005.
Miranda currently lives in Johannesburg with her sort-of-husband and two weird cats.
This giveaway is open to Canada only and ends on February 25, 2015. Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
That’s quite an interesting group of characters. Sounds intriguing.
A captivating novel. Thanks.
The Lovely Bones is one of my favorite books of all time although I was not the biggest fan of the movie. Still, this sounds like a great story, thanks for the chance to win a copy.
The storyline is very different from the usual mysteries I read and I am very curious about it.
It sounds interesting to use that plot device again, and the South African setting seems like it will help it stand out from the books it’s being compared to.
It sounds interesting with so much that will happen and the bonds between mothers and daughters
I like books that take place in Africa. The story is also unusual.
I’ve loved both of the books it’s compared to in the review; that is all I need to know! I am also intrigued by a book set in South Africa as I have some close friends from there, have never been there myself and can’t think of other books I’ve read set there.
Loved Lovely Bones!
I saw this on a list of books to watch for in 2015, and knew that this would be on my to-read list.
I enjoyed The Lovely Bones novel so since it is similar I would be quite interested in reading it.
I enjoyed reading The Lovely Bones, I find it interesting to have the perspective of a character who has passed on and is observing from another “world”
would love to read
It feels like it has a unique perspective, and that it’s getting good feedback.
The South African setting, the exploration of the mother & daughter bond, and the mystical atmosphere sounds very interesting. Love to win it!
I loved The Lovely Bones so if this book is anything like that, I’m very interested!
i love that it has a bit of sadness and mystery to it but most of all it seems like a very intriguing kind of a story for one who would enjoy looking into what kind of person/persons would commit crimes or try to get away with it and try solving them that’s what makes this book a want to read!
What interests me is the murder of Sally and her seeing the life of her family unfold from the afterlife. It sounds like a very interesting story. Thanks for having the giveaway.
Hi Teddy, I accidentally submitted an entry for this, so please disregard (stupid Americans *sigh* ;). I am so envious of you Canadian readers; this sounds like an unusual and excellently written piece of work! Cheers, Kara S