Thirty-year-old Tara Connelly is released from prison after spending eighteen months incarcerated on a drug charge. She expected a ride home from her sister, Geraldine, but instead she's met by Brian Nolan who offers her the ride home she's waiting for.
Tara reluctantly accepts, but what the heck is the detective who arrested her doing at Taconic Correctional Facility on the day and time of her release?
Returning to the house where she grew up, Tara finds the atmosphere strained and uncomfortable.
Her older brother Eddie's demeanor is reserved and Geraldine, the oldest, seems edgy and defensive. They're all adults now so why does Geraldine continue to be controlling and why is Eddie noticeably nervous?
The one shining light is Eddie's young son, Conner. He adds such joy to Tara's life and his one-liner jokes are like the fuel that keeps her going in the right direction.
Tara's focus is on rebuilding her life and keeping her family together. With Tara's prison record and the secrets each of these siblings are keeping, living together continues to be strained. Something needs to give before this family implodes...
"The Connellys of County Down" is this author's sophomore novel and it's every bit as beautifully written as her debut novel "We Are the Brennans". I love Family Fiction, the more complicated and messy it is, the better. What you get with this story is the tense unpredictability of a dysfunctional family, one that's horribly broken.
Tracey Lange knows how to create families and characters that are well-formed with diverse qualities that gives a balance to this story. It arouse emotions that are deep, throaty, and may cause you to look away. There's pain in her characters that's palpable and they simultaneously frustrate you and break your heart. I do love this author's storytelling.
I was fortunate to have both a DRC and an ALC of "The Connellys of County Down". The digital copy was great for late night reading but this was mostly a daytime listen for me. The narrator, Barrie Kreinik, who also narrated "We Are the Brennans", once again offers her superb voicing skills. The audiobook is definitely my preference however, any format will deliver a great read.
"The Connellys from County Down" is a story I wanted to spend more time learning about the family's past, with an ending that didn't feel rushed and abrupt. With that said, this remains a story I love and highly recommend to those who also enjoy richly blended and beautifully written Women's and Family Fiction stories.
4.5⭐
Thank you to Tracey Lange, Celadon Books, and Macmillan Audio for a DRC and ALC of this book through NetGalley. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
Contemporary Family Drama with Straightforward Writing
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2023
Happy Publication Day to Tracey Lange and her sophomore novel The Connellys of County Down. I began listening to this with no information about plot, setting, etc. and was intrigued that the first chapter describes the main character's release day from prison.Tara Connelly served 18 months for drug trafficking, even though she wasn't law enforcement's primary target. She fulfilled her sentence and now plans to rebuild her life, even though she can never resume her teaching career due to her conviction. She shares a house her sister Geraldine, brother Eddie, and his young son Connor, and although they rarely visited her while incarcerated, she's hopeful they will help her start again.But Tara's release doesn't go as planned - the detective who played a role in her conviction demands to meet with her, and her sister doesn't show up to give her a ride home. Are these bad omens or just coincidences? Can Tara leave her past behind, reconnect with her family, and find a meaningful way to use her artistic talents?I like Ms. Lange's straightforward writing style; it's down to earth with no flowery prose. Her expertise in psychology is evident as she takes readers into the minds and hearts of her deeply flawed but well-intentioned characters. The tension and love between Tara and her family members was palpable, relatable, and realistic.The audiobook narration by Barrie Kreinik matched well with the tone of the novel. She also narrates the author's debut novel, We Are the Brennans, which is now at the top of my backlist reading list.Thank you to Macmillan Audio for access to the review copy of the audiobook.
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2023
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