Boundary: The Last Summer

This novel opens powerfully, setting the atmosphere, geography and origins of Bondrée and its peaceful, rural surroundings, but leaving an impression of something sinister impending.

The first couple of chapters introduce the characters and the carefree lifestyle of the inhabitants, describing the influx of summer visitors to Boundary pond and the laid-back existence. it’s 1967, the young people tune into the radio and while away their time relaxing, sunbathing and swimming. A carefree and untroubled world where nothing threatens and nothing disturbs the tranquility.
Michaud evokes the dialogue of the characters well - the friendly distance and faint distrust between the locals, of language, customs and sensibilities. Zaza Mulligan and show more Sissy Morgan epitomise youth in the late 60s, concerned with fashion, music and boys. But this idyl is about to change dramatically.
As I got further into the story I enjoyed the individual ‘voice’ of each of the characters and the contrast between the first and third person narration. I especially related to the young Andrée Duchamp and and her internal monologue on what she saw and felt.
Once the first brutal murder occurs the atmosphere changes immediately. Sissy’s frantic search is very believable and builds the fear and tension in the community and in the reader.
Prior to the murder the lack of a real community rings true. The way the various factions have isolated themselves to their own kind is well observed, but this all changes when people start pulling together to rid the forest of Pete Landry’s ancient hidden bear traps. This is cleverly developed and described.

The character of Stan Michaud and his relationship with his deputy, Jim Cusack is interestingly built up. I started to really care about the characters, especially Michaud and his domestic life, and I began to engage with the emotional life of the individuals: Brian Larue and Emma; Sam and Florence Duchamp and Flo’s ‘third eye’ and nervous twisting of her belt; Gilles and Jocelyne Ménard etc. The tension is building all the time and making this an enjoyable and suspenseful read right to the end.

The climax is unexpected and a nice twist. I didn’t see it coming. A thrilling pace and a thoroughly good read. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys crime genre. show less

Boundary – Andree A Michaud

“During the summer of 1967, a sleepy vacation community on the border of Maine and Quebec is horrified by the murder of two of its teenage girls. When their bodies are discovered in the woods, a detective takes up the case. Told from varying perspectives — including the victim and the murderer himself.”

Set in an idyllic summer getaway setting in Canada during the sixties, the book follows the lives of two girls ZaZa and Sissy and what happens to them during that summer. The story is told from many different characters prospectives the main one being of a younger girl, who longed to be part of the friendship between the two main characters and also a detective who is involved in the case.

I did not find show more the book very interesting or gripping, it was a struggle to finish the book as it did not hold my interest and I was not really interested what happened to the characters. The tale was rather drawn out and sometimes too descriptive that the story got lost. I did not find that this story had enough suspense and twists and did not really keep you guessing. I did finish this book because I had been sent it to review but I feel that I would not seek out any other books written by this author. show less

Une ambiance, fragmentée entre les récits, les aperçus...

Récit sur une disparition d'enfant.
Style de l'autrice très particulier, rythme assez lent.