What Happened To The Mccrays? A Review by Di

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WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MCCRAYS
Tracey Lange

Celadon Books
January 14, 2025
352 pages

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Yes, indeed, what did happen to the McCrays? The reader spends the greater part of the book trying to find out.

Kyle McCray gets a call to return to his upstate New York hometown because his father has had a stroke. Kyle left under questionable circumstances just over two years ago. He returns with great trepidation, not knowing what kind of reception he will get from his father, his ex-wife, his hockey coach or anyone else.

This is the third book I have read by this author. Ms Lange has a wonderful knack for writing about troubled families. They are not necessarily toxic families, but families going through difficult times. The fact that she has a psychology degree enables her to make the issues believable and solvable.

Excellent character development, for Kyle and his ex-wife Casey. Though the reader does not understand what drives them, we get to know them quite well. There are hints of the “terrible, horrible thing” that shapes who they are, but it takes a while to come to light. That happens one piece at a time.

It’s a sad and emotional story about two people who love each other but are driven apart by circumstances. I spent my time whilst reading hoping that they would find their way back to each other.

As a Canadian, I liked that hockey and coaching played a part in the story. Canada’s National Sport!

In her Acknowledgments, Ms Lange mentions the importance of community. She makes it very evident in this story. She involves the school, the neighbourhood, the hockey team and everything else that helps to create a community. This community plays a huge role in the development of the plot.

I was happy with the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

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