May 8, 2023
Russo (Nobody’s Fool) concludes his North Bath trilogy with a wise and witty drama of small-town life. Donald “Sully” Sullivan, the hero of the first two books, has been dead for 10 years, a loss that many of the characters in this volume continue to grapple with. Sully’s son, Peter, who always assumed he was destined for bigger and better things than small-town North Bath, N.Y., sticks around to renovate his father’s Victorian house. Meanwhile, former police chief Douglas Raymer contemplates the loss of his job after the town was annexed by its richer neighbor, Schuyler Springs. Adding to the complications for Raymer, his longtime girlfriend is made the new Schuyler Springs police chief. But it’s Peter’s estranged son, Thomas, who sets the plot in motion when he shows up in North Bath unannounced. Thomas claims he’s just passing through on his way to Montreal, but Peter believes otherwise, and circumstances soon suggest more sinister motivations involving revenge for Peter’s abandonment of Thomas as a child. Russo gets a slow start, laying on a bit too much backstory at the outset, but the novel soon picks up speed, delivering the generous humor, keen ear for dialogue, and deep appreciation for humanity’s foibles that have endeared the author to his readers for decades. Though Sully is gone, his world is alive and well.
June 10, 2024
Pulitzer Prize winner Russo's (Empire Falls) final installment in the "North Bath Trilogy" (following Everybody's Fool) takes place as the small Upstate New York town of North Bath is incorporated into neighboring Schuyler Springs. Police chief Doug Raymer closes the North Bath police department, while his longtime girlfriend, Cherise, is appointed to lead the new Schuyler Spring police force. When a body is discovered at the abandoned hotel in town, Cherise asks Raymer to consult. The mysterious body is only one event in a sea of daily drama, as the eccentric residents of North Bath struggle with poverty, broken marriages, fractured family relationships, and a long collective memory. Narrator Mark Bramhall supplies a measured, somewhat weary tone that conveys the difficulties of hard feelings, misunderstandings, and lost opportunities while also stressing the characters' determination not to give up. Though the story is full of human failings, love, and loss, it is presented ponderously via the inner monologues of the central characters. VERDICT While this series wrap-up will generate holds, it is best for established fans of the trilogy. Share Russo's series with those seeking a leisurely listen featuring strong character development and introspective storytelling.--Joanna M. Burkhardt
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