cover image My Mother's Daughter

My Mother's Daughter

Judith Henry Wall. Simon & Schuster, $25 (400pp) ISBN 978-0-684-83766-6

Wall (If Love Were All) explores the secrets and betrayals of two sisters and their families in the small town of Columbus, Tex., in this atmospheric, sentimental novel, which opens at the beginning of WWII. Independent, ambitious Justine Mayfield joins the WAC, is stationed in London, and, when the war is over, comes home to Columbus pregnant. Moreover, she refuses to identify the father of her child, to the chagrin of her mother, Polly, and her sister, Martha Claire. Martha Claire is resentful, too. She married Grayson Stewart just before he left to fight in Europe, and although he returned, traumatized but loving, Martha Claire can't conceive. Recognizing her sister's pain, Justine decides to let Martha Claire act as surrogate mother to her newborn daughter, Iris. Martha Claire dotes on the child, while Justine pursues her career as a jet-setting professional photographer. But since Martha Claire fears that someday Justine will claim Iris and leave her bereft, she and Grayson adopt two foundlings, Cissy and Buddy, who understand from the beginning that Iris is the star of the family. Then Martha Claire discovers a secret that kills her mother, alienates Grayson, causes Justine and Iris to flee Columbus and leaves Cissy and Buddy to grow up in a strife-filled home. The tangled drama is sometimes slow and repetitive, especially when self-righteous Martha Claire grows ruthlessly bitter and accusatory. But Wall's picture of smalltown life has an authentic ring, as does her portrayal of the pain and complexity that belie the pleasant, pastoral setting. Agent, Philippa Brophy of Sterling Lord Literistic. Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club alternates. (May)