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REVIEW
Well, well, well! What a twisty lie filled, guilt-ridden, mind bending mystery! This contemporary, troubled family life story peels back the facades that these characters have been hiding behind, giving us a front row seat to the sights, sounds and challenges they face as they get caught up in some seriously tangled harrowing events. The Stranger at the Table by Cassie Hamer is filled with many surprises and quite a study on human behaviour.
Terrible mistakes have been made in the past that carry over into the present and these are all brought to the ‘table’ to be laundered at Christmas. Secrets abound that will shock, anger and fuel some unreversible actions. As the blurb states, one person will die who has attended the family gathering.
The title of the novel will be well understood in the wash up and believe me, what a wild ride it is to get to that point! The last quarter of the novel had me pinned to the pages and reading into the wee hours of the morning! Everything speeds up as a cyclone of events tips the balance and all hearts, intentions and secrets unravel.
While reading, I wondered what inspired such a chaotic, original story. For once, I did not check the author’s notes at the end first. I decided to wait until I had finished the last chapter and I am glad I did. I reasoned: why not take this riveting roller coaster plot as it comes and see where it ends up? Yes, there are some wicked twists that unhinged my jaw and left it open! But everything becomes clear. The Epilogue says a lot and ties everything together with sense and sensibility. There are some hard cutting truths and admirable reasons behind the writing of The Stranger at the Table.
A few areas covered are the pressures many families feel in putting on the perfect Christmas festivities. A huge dose of stress fuelled by expectations can unleash a tide of varied and intense emotions. The author also explores the many faces of alcoholism (an alcoholic is not always the one you expect). And is it a genetic weakness or a learned behaviour that results from bad experiences? Then there is the biggie of seeking atonement for a truly unforgivable act: the consequences of actions and remembering of details. Trauma can mess up the brain and as we see from Marianne, something may trigger those ‘real’ events and watch out when it does. There are some very dark tones in this novel for sure but Cassie Hamer handles it all like a pro.
Many of the characters give their viewpoint and it works well in the scheme of things. Marianne, Margaret and Elli certainly kept the plot rolling along. We get to know these ladies fully. The men in the story are well delivered, too, and a few cause great agitation. They are often not quite as they appear and there are lots of secrets, sharp edges and surprises hidden below the surface. Ironically, George, an older gay man, is a special character who becomes the normaliser amid the crazy actions that occur. He is there in the background but offers amazing support. Marianne calls him a ‘de facto family member, like a great uncle.’
I won’t say anymore but be prepared for an unusual and thought provoking journey as The Stranger at the Table will jar your mind and stir up your emotions probably like no other book you have read this year! Cassie is obviously a master at her craft and genre and fans of her work certainly won’t be disappointed by her latest adventure into contemporary life! 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to HQ Fiction and Netgalley for a review copy.
