Book Review / The Mill River Recluse by Darcie Chan

Disfigured by the blow of an abusive husband, and suffering her entire life with severe social anxiety disorder, the widow Mary McAllister spends almost sixty years secluded in a white marble mansion overlooking the town of Mill River, Vermont.

Her links to the outside world are few: the mail, the media, an elderly priest with a guilty habit of pilfering spoons, and a bedroom window with a view of the town below.

Most longtime residents of Mill River consider the marble house and its occupant peculiar, though insignificant, fixtures. An arsonist, a covetous nurse, and the endearing village idiot are among the few who have ever seen Mary.

Newcomers to Mill River -- a police officer and his daughter and a new fourth grade teacher -- are also curious about the reclusive old woman. But only Father Michael O’Brien knows Mary and the secret she keeps -- one that, once revealed, will change all of their lives forever.

Published:     22nd November 2012
Publisher:  Sphere
Author Website:  Click here
Goodreads :  Click here
Series:  Not part of a series
Source:  Bought
Review:   10 out of 10
 
My Review

What I loved about this story...
I had seen this book around for quite a while and it is one of those books that I add to my wishlist to read 'some day' and just hadn't got around to it.  I was then asked to be part of a blog tour for Darcie Chan's second book 'The Mill River Redemption' and I thought now was a good a time as any to pick this up and get it read before reading the second one.  I am so glad that I did, I absolutely loved it!

What started out as a 'village family drama story' with lots of characters turning into that but so much more.  Yes, there were quite a number of characters to keep on top of but that was no problem at all.  The scenery etc was described so brilliantly I could imagine I was right there in the story watching what was happening as the story unfolds.  

If I had to pick one thing that I liked the most about this book, it would be the story of Mary.  I really enjoyed following her story from when she was younger right up to the present day.  Her personality and character gave the book a sense of warmth that I enjoyed a lot.  I also liked the sense of community with all the characters who lived in Mill River, some good and some bad but equally as interesting to read.  

This is such a fantastic read and one that is definitely inspiring right up to the very last word.  If you have not read this book, you need to go and pick this up and read it instantly.  You won't regret it!

What I was not fond of with this story... 
I loved this story from start to finish and really don't have anything bad to say about this book.  

About the Author
(from Goodreads)

Darcie Chan is the author of THE MILL RIVER RECLUSE, an originally self-published debut novel that became a word-of-mouth e-book sensation. With more than 700,000 copies sold, THE MILL RIVER RECLUSE appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists for more than 30 weeks and became a heartwarming favorite of readers across the country.

Ballantine Books will release THE MILL RIVER RECLUSE in print for the first time in the United States and Canada on June 17, 2014, and an updated e-book version of the novel will go on sale on that same date.

Only two short months later, on August 26, 2014, Darcie's second novel, entitled THE MILL RIVER REDEMPTION, will be published in both print and electronic formats. Like her first novel, THE MILL RIVER REDEMPTION is set in the fictional town of Mill River, Vermont, and will be released by Ballantine Books.

Currently, Darcie lives just north of New York City with her husband and son. She is hard at work on the third novel in the Mill River series.