All But What’s Left

Mumford’s debut, a story of a young Canadian woman in a small town, is a deft blend of romance and emotional mystery. In 1981, when Hannah Tatum was six years old, her mother was accidentally killed by her father while shooting a bear on their property, and the incident echoes into her adulthood. In 1996, when Hannah is 21, her boyfriend Radek is away at college and he decides they should try dating others while they’re apart “for fun.” Hannah dislikes the idea but passively accepts it. She’s less accepting of her father’s decision to sell the family ranch. Hannah gradually gains inner strength when she meets a handsome young cowboy, Will, who has been hired to help prepare the ranch for sale. Time is fluid as Hannah, in 1996, frequently revisits memories of her childhood friendship with Radek blossoming into love, and she often fights to recall the circumstances of her mother’s death. When Hannah decides to learn more about the accidental killing—her father was briefly suspected of murder—her world begins to expand beyond its narrow, small-town borders. The naiveté of youth and a protected life are expressed well during the earlier narratives, but 21-year-old Hannah is often portrayed as too quaint. Still, the exploration of love and heart-touching mystery keep the pages turning in this solid novel. [em](BookLife) [/em]