All the Words We Know

An Australian octogenarian suffering from dementia narrates this bold outing from former schoolteacher Nash (An Island in the Lake). Ex-English instructor Rose now lives in a nursing home where her son, daughter, and twin granddaughters visit her every day. After Rose’s friend and fellow resident falls out a window to her death, Rose knows something isn’t right. Though her words often fail her, Rose is still plenty sharp, and her alarm bells ring when management forces the residents into different rooms, then puts her favorite staff member (“the nice boy who mops”) on probation. To piece together the mystery of her friend’s death, Rose roams the facility’s hallways and digs deep into what’s left of her memory, eavesdropping on and interacting with “the fellow who doesn’t live here,” the “Angry Nurse,” the “Scare Manager,” and others. While mystery fans will enjoy Rose’s spunk, tenacity, and sense of humor, the plot’s repetitive structure stalls momentum, and Nash’s fondness for wordplay can stray into excess. Patient readers, however, will be rewarded with a poignant conclusion that poses vital questions about standards of eldercare. Despite some rough patches, this is worth a look. Agent: Fiona Henderson, Bold Type. (July)