It's a not-so-happy Saturday here as we're leaving gorgeous St Ives today 😭 It's been a lovely week and we've spent lots of time on the beach, but unfortunately, as with all holidays, reality beckons. I thought I'd share my review of The Distant Dead by Heather Young today. I took it to the beach yesterday for its photo opp! 🔥 The protagonist is Sal Prentiss, an orphan who wants to fit in. He lives in a ranch up in the hills and finds himself at the centre of a murder investigation when the charred remains of a local teacher are discovered. The teacher, Adam Merkel, was an outsider himself and the pair formed a bond. But it is Nora Wheaton who delves deep into Merkel's past to try and discover who murdered him and why. She suspects that Sal knows more about Merkel's death than he is letting on. 🔥 Whilst this was a crime novel - and one that was very well done - it centres around loneliness and feeling like you don't quite belong. It was poignant and heartfelt and I certainly felt a strong feeling of empathy towards Sal. Despite this only being Young's second novel, the prose was rich and suspenseful. The story takes a little time to get going but that is due to Young's world- and character-building; painting a picture of the town of Lovelock and its inhabitants. The mystery itself was complex and one which delves deep into the town's history. It was a really compelling and all-consuming plot. The Distant Dead was a beautifully written coming-of-age story, with a murder mystery at its heart, and is certainly a novel you should have on your radar. The Distant Dead is out now. Thank you to @verve_books for my copy. #thedistantdead #heatheryoung #review #bookreview #bookstagram #gifted #bookstagrammers #bookstagramuk #bookish #booklover #booknerd #booked #bookbloggers #bookblogger