Bloodline by Jess Lourey

Joan is happy to return with her fiancee to his hometown in Minnesota. It is a far cry from the bustling city life she is used to but after her recent mugging she thinks she should give it a fair trial especially as she is now pregnant. The neighbours and her in laws are welcoming but it seems rather strained. Joan cant put her finger on what troubles her, but having being used to being independent she sets out on first finding a job at the local newspaper, a one man show which nevertheless welcomes her and she tries to put her misgivings aside and get on with her life. When she feels that every step she takes is being monitored and then relayed back to her family especially to the elders of the community, she knows that things are off kilter but how she is going to get out of this is the issue. What follows is slightly Margaret Atwood ish. It is also a recreation of a true story so here fact is stranger than fiction. Surreal but good reading. Sent by Thomas & Mercer for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.