The Cuckoo Wood
Title: The Cuckoo Wood
Author: M. Sean Coleman
Genre: Adult Supernatural Mystery/Thriller
Rating: Five Stars!
Dr. Alex Ripley doesn’t mind that
she’s been dubbed “The Miracle Detective.” She has, after all, dedicated her
career to debunking alleged miracles or divine interventions with the logical
perspective of science and reason. It’s no wonder then that, during a
particularly disturbing and bizarre case in a small, isolated, and overly
religious community, an old friend calls to ask for Alex’s help. There’s talk
of angels and she’s hoping that Alex can get to the bottom of it.
Kirkdale is a rural community in
England’s Lake District. It’s picturesque and one of those small towns where
everyone knows everyone, so when a teenage girl commits suicide, it raises
concerns; not only because it's a tragedy, but also because the
community seems to want the news to just fade away. Their odd reaction is undoubtedly due to the fact that, decades
before, the town had suffered a tragic loss when six young girls had made a
suicide pact and then committed their atrocious act at a local lake, forever cursing
the town with the stain of their sins. Has the past come back to haunt them? Or has one girl just committed an isolated, selfish act? Many of the townsfolk hope that's the case, but when a
second girl takes her life, their fears are reignited and the news garners the
attention of the local authorities.
When Alex arrives in town, she
immediately senses that she isn’t welcomed there and that her friend was
definitely onto something. Kirkdale is ripe with secrets and there’s talk of “The
Kirkdale Angel,” but it seems as if no one wants to discuss it or the town’s sinister
past, including the victims’ families, who are seemingly just as detached and
resolute in keeping their sins under wraps. Alex, undeterred by the residents’
steadfast denials and superstitions, is determined to uncover the truth with or
without their help.
It’s a journey that, I assure you, is
well worth the read! From the moment I picked up the book, I was captivated by its
intriguing plot twists and turns and by how beautifully written it is. I could
not put it down! The Cuckoo Wood offers
a fascinating view into the world of a humble, pious town trying to come to
grips with the tragic losses that continue to befall it. It is a riveting story about how grief, regret, and misbegotten dogma can not only oppress a town,
but perpetuate its downfall.
