By Erica Wiggins
Content warning: murder, sexual assault
An Unthinkable Thing is the eighth novel by Canadian author Nicole Lundrigan. I have been a fan of this author for quite some time and had the good fortune of being able to meet her at an event and listen to her speak. It only increased my love for her novels, and I was obviously excited to dive into this one.
An Unthinkable Thing begins with Tommie Ware, a young boy living with his aunt. In the summer of 1958, Tommie’s life is upended when his aunt doesn’t come home after work one night. When she is found murdered, there is no other choice but for Tommie to return to the mother that gave him up. Tommie has just turned eleven, and his mom is working as a “live-in” housekeeper. The family gives Tommie’s mom, Esther, permission for him to stay until the next steps are sorted out. But things at the Henneberry Estate are not as they seem. By the end of the summer, a horrific crime has been committed, and we are left to ask if an eleven-year-old could really be responsible.
“When I was a young boy, my aunt often told me a lie makes things worse. But she never explained that the truth can, too. I learned that lesson on my own during the summer of 1958, when I was eleven years old.”
This story shifts between June 1958 and the trial of Tommie in March 1959. The trial is conveyed through newspaper articles, excerpts of testimony, evidence reports, and other court and transcript documents. I loved this shift between the timelines and the different styles. It made for a very quick read, and I found myself turning page after page. This is a book you will need to set time aside for when you start—you will not want to put it down.
I really enjoyed Tommie’s character. He cared deeply for his aunt and was happy living in their apartment with very few things. When he moves in with this mother, his discomfort is palpable, and it permeates the story. Lundrigan does an incredible job of bringing the Henneberry family to life. Right off the bat, you get a creepy vibe from them and wonder if they are just eccentric or if there is really something wrong with this family. I really disliked the character of Martin. He is overall a terrible person—sneaky and manipulative, and this plays into the story perfectly. My favourite part was all the clues and red herrings in this story. I started thinking I knew exactly what was going to happen, but I was not at all prepared for that ending! IT WAS INCREDIBLE!
I loved this book! If you love a good suspense with surprising twists, check this story out. Once you love this one, she has a backlist of stories just waiting to be read. I will be over here just waiting for her next book to arrive.
Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.