The Legacy of Old Gran Parks by Isobel Blackthorn

 

Travelogue of the great Australian outback.

Coming of ‘old’ age story of  four resilient women.

A macabre murder mystery.

A story of divine retribution.

Oh, and not to forget, just a dash of a ghost as well.

The Legacy of Old Gran Parks by Isobel Blackthorn has a story-line to whet anyone’s appetite (that’s a pun, read the book and you’ll get it).

Ooops, I forgot to mention comedy, dollops of black comedy.

Isobel’s writing took me on such an amazing journey of the Australian outback that I swear I could literally hear the ocean in my ear. Hmm... maybe that was granny parks ghost...shiver.

Crossroads play a big role in this book, be it the road, the lives of the 4 central characters or even the ghost.

“crossroads are meeting places, drawing in forces from all four directions, for better, for worse.”

The book is set in the town of Cann River and follows the story of two semi-locals Frankie and Pearl and two out-of-towners Emily and Miriam. Each of them appears to be a misfit and in the beginning not likable. As the story progresses we come to bond with the characters as they also come to bond with each other.

A hunter, a retired civil worker, a cookie baking granny and a backpacker don’t make your average friendly pair but through the many twists in the book (and the roads) a strong familial bond is created between them and they become a sisterhood of sorts. A sisterhood of survivors.

As each women’s past and present unfolds, we come to empathize with them and stand in agreement with their actions.

While you  are absorbed into their stories, a little nudge comes in from our friendly ghost (okay maybe not friendly) to shake you up so bad that even the light from the lighthouse doesn’t work to settle you.

Gory, treacherous, funny at times yet uplifting at all stages, this book is filled up to the brim with life lessons.

“No consequences. There had to be consequences.”

 

So glad I got this RC, it was an adventurous and illuminating read. Hope you liked my fair and honest review.

Happy Reading☺