Bent Road

Monday Night Book Discussions

"Bent Road"
(written by Lori Roy)

Salina Public Library

Salina, KS

© Lydia Lowe  6/10/2013

     I'm a writer myself so probably the first thing that I notice about a book is the writing style and I will have to say that I didn't particularly care for this writer's style.  The book was written like a play, it was all about setting the scene and then I'd wait, and nothing happened.  Even though I knew that was the style, I still found it annoying and that never really left me throughout the entire book.

     However, there was a story in all that mess and it is a good one.  I read a lot of mysteries, so many times I know ahead of time where the story is going before it actually gets there.  I don't know if it was due to the writing style or what, but I did let the writer lead me to conclusions within the story.  I guess you could say, I didn't find this story as predictable as some.  

     The characters were well written and fully formed, especially the state of Kansas, which I felt was one of the characters.  It played a very important part in the story, much more than just as a backdrop.  All the characters intermingled together to tell a story of life and death, love and loss.  The story begins immediately with a kidnapping and leads the reader to an earlier crime that has many similarities to the present day.  All of this is set in motion when a son returns home with his family to make a new life and put the past to rest.  All this activity seems to stir the life in the community to a rolling boil.  I don't know if the author ever lived in Kansas, but she really nailed how life is here in the state.  

     I don't think that this book portrayed Kansas necessarily in a good light, but it was accurate to the country, the people, and the attitudes of those who live and work here.  If you like a good mystery that seems very realistic, if you like reading books set in Kansas, you'll enjoy this book.