Scare the Light Away

First Line: I stood outside the hardware store at the unmarked intersection.

Widow Rebecca McKenzie has returned to Hope River, Ontario, after an absence of thirty years to attend her mother's funeral. Thirty years ago she was escaping from an abusive childhood and a psychopathic grandfather, and she's never wanted to go back. But here she is, amongst the family members she left behind so long ago, and she can see how much things have both changed... and remained the same. This is a visit that Rebecca vows will be short, but when asked by her father to go through all her mother's things, she discovers that her mother had kept diaries since she was seventeen.

At first reluctantly, but then more and more voraciously, Rebecca reads her show more mother's diaries, and learns of her mother's experience as a bride during World War II, as this young woman brings a baby to a new country, watches her husband change once he's back home, and experiences those family dynamics for herself.

All the while, the police of Hope River are searching for a missing girl, and the townspeople have already made up their minds as to the identity of the person responsible: Rebecca's charming brother Jimmy. Some of those people aren't shy about letting their feelings be known, and as the days pass, Rebecca finds herself and other members of her family to be in very real danger.

Once I began reading Scare the Light Away, I found it difficult to stop. I, too, come from a small town, and twenty-five years elapsed before I went back. Although my situation was very different from Rebecca's, I found it easy to put myself in her place and to feel her reluctance to be back where she grew up. The reader knows almost from the first page that something is very wrong in Rebecca's family, but Delany takes the time to set her stage and bring out her characters before any real information is given. It's important to get to know Rebecca and to see how much she can be trusted as a narrator before continuing on with the story. I enjoyed that process very much.

Much the same process is used when bringing out the diaries. Rebecca's mother's story is brought forth a scene at a time, and months or years can pass between these glimpses. Between Rebecca's story and her mother's, the reader begins filling in the gaps, and the suspense that has been building continues to grow. Delany never relies too much upon those diaries, but makes the reader rely on both Rebecca, her mother, and the reader's own observations to piece everything together.

With my small town background, I found the behavior of the more violent residents of Hope River to not only ring true, but to be downright chilling. The combination of the strong character of Rebecca, her mother's diaries, and the present-day crime proves to be an engrossing one. Vicki Delany not only knows how to write excellent series, she writes thrillers that can't be put down, too. Whether you're a series reader or one who prefers standalones, I urge you to read (at least) one of this talented writer's books. show less

Can a Leopard Change Its Spots?

I recently finished reading Scare The Light Away by Vicki Delany. This is what the book is about:

Secrets from the past…

For thirty years Rebecca McKenzie has tried to forget her life in Hope River, the isolated rural town where she was raised. But when she travels home to attend her mother’s funeral, she has to face her estranged family…and she’s shocked at how much has changed. Her older brother, Jimmy, seems like a mature, thoughtful man rather than the bully she remembers, and her father has gone from being distant to alarmingly forgetful.

Now Rebecca’s “quiet” hometown is making national headlines with the disappearance of a teenager. In the eyes of some angry locals, Jimmy’s reputation show more makes him the prime suspect, but his new wife is certain he’s innocent. Rebecca sets out to uncover the truth, even if it means bringing to light the kinds of secrets that people will do anything to keep buried. Before long, a killer triggers a shattering end game, and Rebecca will have to make a choice between trust and fear, love and lies.

My Thoughts On This Book:

Secrets from the past can be painful when they are brought to light and they are made even more so if we believe that people cannot change. Can a leopard change its spots? We are always quick to answer no. In some cases we may be wrong.

Vicki Delany’s Scare The Light Away helps the reader realize that we should not always assume that people can’t change. In this story Rebecca McKenzie goes to her mother’s funeral in a town she has not visited since she left it 30 years previously. She goes there absolutely believing that everything will be the same as it was. Rebecca finds that this belief holds her back from trusting in her family and especially her brother.

The disappearance of a local teenager has everyone in town looking at Jimmy McKenzie, Rebecca’s brother, as a suspect in her disappearance. Rebecca’s belief that her brother has not changed and her unwillingness to see the truth about the past causes herself and others around her much pain. This pain comes from the belief that her brother is involved in the local teenager’s disappearance and her steadfast belief that a leopard can’t change its spots. Her brother has been in trouble in the past and therefore must be responsible for this teenager’s disappearance. Can a leopard change its spots? Sometimes we need to be open minded enough to answer yes, especially when we are dealing with family. We are all human and make mistakes and it is possible for us to gain wisdom with age, grow up and stop making the same mistakes over and over again. This book offered a great lesson in trust and love and how we sometimes just need to trust in those we love and not assume the worst just because of past behavior.

Scare The Light Away is a great read. I had a hard time putting it down. The ending may not have been quite what I was hoping for but I did like it. This is the first book I have read by Vicki Delany and I have to say that I am looking forward to reading more of her books. I would give this story a 4**** rating. show less