Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Blackberry Winter - Book Review

After reading two books about genocide (In the Shadow of the Banyan and The Sandcastle Girls) I was ready for something lighter. So, it was perfect timing that the newest book from one of my favorite authors arrived in my mailbox last week.

Sarah Jio's third novel Blackberry Winter has just been published. I enjoyed both of her earlier novels, The Violets of March and Bungalow and I must say that her books just keep getting better.


Claire Aldridge, a reporter for the Seattle Herald, is given the assignment to write about the weather phenomenon known as a "blackberry winter" when snow falls in May. In her research, Claire discovers that the last "blackberry winter" was in 1933 and on that very day a little boy went missing. Determined to find the truth about the missing boy, Claire also discovers truth in her own life and is able to heal from the deep personal wounds.

Jio has a comfortable style of writing that I can easily get lost within her stories. Her characters are realistic and often make unwise decisions for which they must unravel themselves. Yet, they are so likable that reader can't help rooting for their ultimate success. Jio also brings her city to life in both eras--present day and the Great Depression years. Like her previous novels, Blackberry Winter is a delightful read with a well plotted mystery that will have the reader turning pages late into the night.

**I received a complimentary copy of Blackberry Winter in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was received.**

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