Homecoming is a slow-burn generational mystery set in Australia.
Synopsis
A family tragedy on Christmas Eve of 1959 in Adelaide, Australia, remains mostly unsolved sixty years later.
Jessica, a struggling journalist, returns to Australia after receiving a call that her grandmother Nora suffered a fall. Jess is surprised to find Norma, a typically energetic and bright woman, confused and small, in her hospital bed.
While staying at her grandmother’s home, Jess discovers a true-crime book linking the decades-old Christmas Eve tragedy to her family. Jess begins to investigate what happened all those years ago.
Review of Homecoming
This historical mystery has multiple POVs, two timelines and contains a book within a book. It looks at mother-daughter relationships, identity, and belonging. It also considers mental health during a period when these conversations were not openly discussed.
There are several threads to this mystery. Some are glaringly obvious from the beginning, but others might be a surprise. I did not see one of the final reveals at all, but the breadcrumbs were there.
I love reading books set in Australia, and Morton brought the 1960s setting to life. The descriptions of the landscape are vivid, and the heat is palpable.
The only problem I had with this book was the length. Usually, I love chunky books; they give the reader lots of time to get invested in the story and characters. But with this one, at times, it felt like a slog.
If you enjoy dual timelines with a bit of mystery, you may also enjoy Homecoming.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Expected Publication: 04 April 2023
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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