Not all in our book club agreed, but I really found this story fascinating. We found a lot to discuss, however. Under the Harrow follows the recent trend of less than likable characters. Nora is visiting her sister Rachel in the small village where she lives in England. She has traveled from London to see her. When she arrives she finds Rachel stabbed to death. Years earlier Rachel was attacked, and since then has been consumed with finding her attacker. Has she found him, and did he do this to Rachel? Although the book is superficially about the question of Rachel's murder and "who done it?", it is deeper than that. It is about the tremendous anger and compulsion Nora and Rachel share regarding Rachel's attacker and men who rape, attack and abuse women. They abnormally read every news story about a woman attacked, and even attend court proceedings trying to find the man who almost killed Rachel in her teens. Nora intently searches for Rachel's killer, stalking the man she thinks did it, while suffering the grief and guilt she feels. The author twists the story multiple times, keeping you in suspense. There are other abusers and attackers Nora seeks out trying to find the answer. When it came, I personally was surprised, but should not have been. The author gives plenty of clues. This is Berry's first title, but I think I am already a fan.

UNDER THE HARROW was such a disappointment!

It looks like a short book, but it is longer than it needs to be. Parts 1 and 2 are about the overwhelming grief of a woman whose sister has been murdered. Her grief seems to have taken over her senses. These two parts are full of paragraphs describing scenery. They add nothing to the story and seem to be padding to make the book longer.

I struggled through Parts 1 and 2 and considered many times not finishing the book.

Part 3 is a little better. At least there were fewer useless paragraphs.

UNDER THE HARROW is Flynn Berry's first book. Luckily, I know she gets better. Try one of her later books.