Harrowgate

Harrowgate - Kate Maruyama What sacrifices would you make to keep your family together? What stories would you tell yourself to keep things the way they were? And if you had to, would you be able to let them go?

Michael's wife, Sarah, is pregnant when he has to leave for a business trip where means of communication are precarious at best. Near the end of his trip he gets a call that there's been an emergency and Sarah's gone to hospital.

On Michael's trip home, he imagines all kind of horrible scenarios, fearing the worst. Upon arriving at Harrowgate, he is greeted by his lovely wife, but she's acting strange and as days come and go he starts to notice impossible changes in his wife and the son she won't let him hold or get to know.

Sarah's behavior is erratic and the arrival of Greta stirs up Michael's guilt over not being there for the birth and jealously over this new friend who seems to have a strong hold on Sarah. A hold that can only be overcome by Michael who must admit a truth to himself and to his family.

I was instantly caught up in this tale of a family coping with the changes that occur with a new baby in the home. Sarah's feelings of isolation and sadness really spoke to me as this is something some new mothers feel. A child depends on you for everything and at times it can be all-consuming.
I started to notice that something was wrong with Sarah and the baby early on, but couldn't quite put my finger on it. It was frustrating not getting any hints and just thinking Sarah was really struggling mentally was not enough explanation for what was happening.
As more clues were dropped the story became more interesting and when Greta, Sarah's friend, starts visiting more often, things get tense and questions arise.
However, nothing really happened after that. The same scenarios continued to play out with a sense of foreboding and doom. I was expecting a big blow-up, but the ending was so anti-climatic that I was left feeling bereft of a potentially memorable ending.
This really was a hauntingly good read that would have been perfect if it was tightened up a bit and more info was given on Greta and the darkness.
Still, a worthy read.