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The Boy
In 1959 Ray and Daisy Cook and their five children were brutally slain in their modest home in the central Alberta town of Stettler. Robert Raymond Cook, Ray Cook’s son from his first marriage, was convicted of the crime, and had the infamy of becoming the last man hanged in Alberta. Forty-six years later, a troublesome character named Louise in a story that Betty Jane Hegerat finds herself inexplicably reluctant to write, becomes entangled in the childhood memory of hearing about that gruesome mass murder. Through four years of obsessively tracking the demise of the Cook family, and dancing around the fate of the fictional family, the problem that will not go away is how to bring the story to the page. A work of non-fiction about the Cooks and their infamous son, or a novel about Louise and her problem stepson? Both stories keep coming back to the boy. Part memoir, part investigation, part novella, part writer’s journal, The Boy, is the author’s final capitulation to telling the story with all of the troublesome questions unanswered.
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2011
2 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Betty Jane Hegerat
9 books17 followersBetty Jane Hegerat is the author of two novels, a collection of short stories, and her most recent book, The Boy (Oolichan 2011) which is a fusion of fiction, non-fiction, memoir and metafiction. She lives in Calgary, and teaches creative writing as well mentoring in various ways. Delivery (Oolichan, 2009) was a finalist for the George Bugnet fiction prize in the Alberta Book Awards. Juror's comment: "Domestic dysfunction never had it so good. This novel lactates with life."
The Boy was a finalist for the City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell prize, shortlisted for the Alberta Book Awards non-fiction prize, and a finalist in the High Plains, Billings, Montana awards.
Betty Jane Hegerat was the 2015 recipient of the Writers Guild of Alberta Golden Pen Award for lifetime achievement as a writer.
A new book, Odd One Out, a novel for teens, will be released by Oolichan Books in spring 2016.
The Boy was a finalist for the City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell prize, shortlisted for the Alberta Book Awards non-fiction prize, and a finalist in the High Plains, Billings, Montana awards.
Betty Jane Hegerat was the 2015 recipient of the Writers Guild of Alberta Golden Pen Award for lifetime achievement as a writer.
A new book, Odd One Out, a novel for teens, will be released by Oolichan Books in spring 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 3, 2012
Betty Jane is coming to our book club meeting tonight and I am SO pumped.
When our book club suggested this book and I discovered the author was a small town author I figured it would be a 'blah' book. Serves me right for assuming and placing a stereotype on the book, because the story and writing was fantastic.
Betty Jane splices nonfiction and fiction together in a compelling way. The nonfiction side is herself, a writer, researching the story of the last man hanged in Alberta--Robert Raymond Cook. She shares the story of how she became intrigued with his story, the research, and whether or not he was indeed guilty of murdering his father, stepmother, and five half siblings.
The fiction side of the story is a story Betty Jane is struggling to tell. One of Louise, a new mom who gains a 'bad apple' stepson when she marries. Louise fears her stepson and has conversations with Betty Jane, the author of Louise's story.
Fiction and nonfiction mingle with each other and the nonfiction side influences the fiction side--in ways that makes Louise worry!
It's a brilliant concept that Betty Jane pulls off effortlessly. It's a fast read. The author touches on the gruesome murders in a way that intrigues the readers, but doesn't gross them out. However, there were times when I was so caught up in what was going to happen and Louise's worries that I had to keep reading so I could leave off for the night in a spot that would allow me to sleep!
Highly recommended.
When our book club suggested this book and I discovered the author was a small town author I figured it would be a 'blah' book. Serves me right for assuming and placing a stereotype on the book, because the story and writing was fantastic.
Betty Jane splices nonfiction and fiction together in a compelling way. The nonfiction side is herself, a writer, researching the story of the last man hanged in Alberta--Robert Raymond Cook. She shares the story of how she became intrigued with his story, the research, and whether or not he was indeed guilty of murdering his father, stepmother, and five half siblings.
The fiction side of the story is a story Betty Jane is struggling to tell. One of Louise, a new mom who gains a 'bad apple' stepson when she marries. Louise fears her stepson and has conversations with Betty Jane, the author of Louise's story.
Fiction and nonfiction mingle with each other and the nonfiction side influences the fiction side--in ways that makes Louise worry!
It's a brilliant concept that Betty Jane pulls off effortlessly. It's a fast read. The author touches on the gruesome murders in a way that intrigues the readers, but doesn't gross them out. However, there were times when I was so caught up in what was going to happen and Louise's worries that I had to keep reading so I could leave off for the night in a spot that would allow me to sleep!
Highly recommended.
January 10, 2023
This book is a combination fiction, memoir, and true crime. The author goes back and forth between telling her fictional story… which (in some ways) mimics the true crime portion of the story as she writes about her research into the crime. The chapters alternate between the fiction and the memoir.
The fictional story is set in the 90s, and is from the POV of a woman, Louise, marrying a man, Jake, who has a 12-year old son, Daniel. Louise is a teacher and knows that Daniel often gets into trouble, so she is concerned about how this will go as she becomes his stepmother. The true crime portion of the story is about a boy (Bobby Cook) in small town Alberta who, in his 20s, was convicted and hanged in 1960 for murdering his family: his father, stepmother, and five younger half-siblings. This was the last execution in Alberta.
It seems kind of an odd mix, but it worked really well for me. I liked that the character Louise would “talk” to the author, usually in between chapters, but occasionally in the memoir chapters, as well, as Louise and the author Betty figured out what the fictional Louise’s story would be and how similar it would be to Bobby Cook’s story. I liked both the fictional story, and I found the true crime portion of the story quite interesting, as well. Might have to look further into Robert Raymond Cook.
The fictional story is set in the 90s, and is from the POV of a woman, Louise, marrying a man, Jake, who has a 12-year old son, Daniel. Louise is a teacher and knows that Daniel often gets into trouble, so she is concerned about how this will go as she becomes his stepmother. The true crime portion of the story is about a boy (Bobby Cook) in small town Alberta who, in his 20s, was convicted and hanged in 1960 for murdering his family: his father, stepmother, and five younger half-siblings. This was the last execution in Alberta.
It seems kind of an odd mix, but it worked really well for me. I liked that the character Louise would “talk” to the author, usually in between chapters, but occasionally in the memoir chapters, as well, as Louise and the author Betty figured out what the fictional Louise’s story would be and how similar it would be to Bobby Cook’s story. I liked both the fictional story, and I found the true crime portion of the story quite interesting, as well. Might have to look further into Robert Raymond Cook.
September 22, 2011
Not what I would usually be drawn to - a bit gruesome (about Robert Raymond Cook, the last man hanged in Alberta - for murdering his father, stepmother and their 5 children - he maintained his innocence to the end), but couldn't stop reading after I started. A fascinating mix of fiction, non-fiction, and writing memoir all rolled into one. I've never come across anything quite like it - Hegerat takes you along on her research trips and lets you look in on her thinking process as she tries to capture what might have gone on in this family leading up to this tragedy (concentrating especially on the stepmother). Her fictional "mother" has her own voice and keeps probing and questioning the author. We learn about the original murder investigation alongside the fictional re-imagining of the emotional lives of the family members. In the end, I think Hegerat did an admirable job of respecting the dignity of the real people involved while creating a believable fictional account. Her goal was not to prove or disprove the boy's guilt or innocence, however, she failed to address the question of "if he didn't do it, then who did (and why)?" which leaves the reader hanging at the end.
(Being familiar with the Alberta locations (Stettler, Hanna, etc.) added considerably to the fascination.)
(Being familiar with the Alberta locations (Stettler, Hanna, etc.) added considerably to the fascination.)
November 15, 2011
I was at a gathering of writers last night when a man walked by. He was waving a book and asking excitedly if anyone else had read it. This guy was practically popping out of his skin he was so eager to tell us about the book. It is unique, he said. It blends a real story with a fictional story and the process of writing too. She's not like other writers, he said of the author. She's a revolutionary. The book he held in his hand was The Boy and everything he said about it is true. It is a thoughtful exploration of a crime that continues to haunt many Albertans. And it is a brave endeavour to discover new formats for touching the edge of truth.
September 22, 2011
Makes you want to know more about the case. I now want to read the book by Jack Pecover
February 9, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was unorthodox in its approach to telling a story but it worked.
Three stories within a story - each one relying on the other while being separate. Having spent time in all the places the author traveled - I went on the road with her. I worried about Louise and I was fascinated by the Robert Raymond Cook story.
Well done.
Three stories within a story - each one relying on the other while being separate. Having spent time in all the places the author traveled - I went on the road with her. I worried about Louise and I was fascinated by the Robert Raymond Cook story.
Well done.
September 13, 2011
It's been a long time since I've read such an intimate account of the author's process in obsessing over a story. The Boy is a skilful mix of truths, both fact and fiction.
March 21, 2021
A most unusual book. I've never read another one like it. An author is recounting her struggle to write a novel, while researching a real-life murder that forms the inspiration for her book. As an author myself, I related to her struggles and the conversations she has with the protagonist. She illustrates her self-doubt about continuing on with the work, she includes real-life interviews and conversations with mentors. She leaves the ending ambiguous, as there is still no solution to this crime. The reader is free to make up her mind about the guilt or innocence of the man accused and eventually hung for the horrendous crime. It's all very intriguing. I think it would make a really good movie. I appreciated that she didn't go into the gory details, but stayed with the family's story and the strange behaviour of The Boy. Behaviour that had no rhyme nor reason. Very Sartrian, leaving a hollow, empty feeling but still, unforgettable. I had never heard of this book. I only found out about it by learning that there are ghost tours in Stettler, Alberta, since the victims are said to still haunt the town. I think for the structure and the tragedy of this story, it deserves to have wider readership. It took courage to write it.
March 30, 2021
This is a story within a story.betty Jane Hegerat is conversing with the latest character in her newest novel. At the ame time she is learning about murders that happened in a small town. Neither story is badly told but neither is satisfying.
June 5, 2022
This book was very interesting. I really enjoyed how Ms Hegerat weaved the true story of her researching the Cook family murders with the fictional story of another family with eery similarities. I look forward to reading more of her work.
July 18, 2019
This is 3.5 stars for me.
April 9, 2022
Stettler, Alberta infamous murder case. Robert Raymond Cook intertwined with the author's fiction story.
October 5, 2014
Okay so:
Betty Jean Hegerat, the author of this book, started to write a fiction book about a single schoolteacher in Calgary who marries a man with a twelve year old son who is a bit of a handful. As she writes, she remembers a shocking true-life family murder from her childhood in rural Canada - the murder, in fact, of a stepfamily by a disgruntled son. This book, The Boy, captures Hegerat's own exploration of her interest in that real-life tragedy, as well as her incorporation of the story into the fictional story she's creating, including the insistence of her fictional protagonist, Louise, in having a say in how her story plays out. It's written in a split format - part the fiction story, paralleled with the true backstory - though those lines become very fuzzy as the book goes on.
That may not make a lot of sense, but that's my fault - the book has a complicated structure which Hegerat pulls off perfectly; it's not at all difficult to read. Using this technique, Hegerat manages to bring a number of themes together - the interplay between author and character, between real life and fiction, as well as the way authors and readers use books to explore the mysteries of the human heart. Hegerat's fictional characters, her representations of real people, her fictionalizations of other real people, and even her reflection of herself, are all compelling - even when they are obscure and difficult, just like real people are.
It wasn't entirely a surprise to me that the ending was unsatisfactory. In part, that was Hegerat's message - life is not always satisfactory, we don't always get the conclusions we want or have all our questions answered point by point. However, part of the dissatisfaction came I think because I LOVED the majority so much. I found the book to be compelling just about to the end - funny, smart, thoughtful - just a wonderful read. I didn't hate the ending, it just didn't meet the high bar the rest of the book had set - and endings are hard, especially when there are a lot of good stories to wind up. But I would NOT say this means don't read the book - if you like mysteries, human psychology, the dark side of human nature, as well as well-told stories, read this book! You won't be disappointed.
Betty Jean Hegerat, the author of this book, started to write a fiction book about a single schoolteacher in Calgary who marries a man with a twelve year old son who is a bit of a handful. As she writes, she remembers a shocking true-life family murder from her childhood in rural Canada - the murder, in fact, of a stepfamily by a disgruntled son. This book, The Boy, captures Hegerat's own exploration of her interest in that real-life tragedy, as well as her incorporation of the story into the fictional story she's creating, including the insistence of her fictional protagonist, Louise, in having a say in how her story plays out. It's written in a split format - part the fiction story, paralleled with the true backstory - though those lines become very fuzzy as the book goes on.
That may not make a lot of sense, but that's my fault - the book has a complicated structure which Hegerat pulls off perfectly; it's not at all difficult to read. Using this technique, Hegerat manages to bring a number of themes together - the interplay between author and character, between real life and fiction, as well as the way authors and readers use books to explore the mysteries of the human heart. Hegerat's fictional characters, her representations of real people, her fictionalizations of other real people, and even her reflection of herself, are all compelling - even when they are obscure and difficult, just like real people are.
It wasn't entirely a surprise to me that the ending was unsatisfactory. In part, that was Hegerat's message - life is not always satisfactory, we don't always get the conclusions we want or have all our questions answered point by point. However, part of the dissatisfaction came I think because I LOVED the majority so much. I found the book to be compelling just about to the end - funny, smart, thoughtful - just a wonderful read. I didn't hate the ending, it just didn't meet the high bar the rest of the book had set - and endings are hard, especially when there are a lot of good stories to wind up. But I would NOT say this means don't read the book - if you like mysteries, human psychology, the dark side of human nature, as well as well-told stories, read this book! You won't be disappointed.
Read
May 29, 2012Betty Jane Hegerat: The number of blended families in our society continues to grow, and I've known many, but I've never consciously explored that theme. When I started writing The Boy, I believed it would be a short piece of fiction about a character named Louise. I knew she would be drawn into a relationship with a man somewhat older than herself, and that the man would have a son who Louise suspected would be a problem. When I recalled the Cook murder case, however, I understood why I had such difficulty allowing Louise's story to unfold: I was frightened for her.
Read Literary Mama's full interview with Betty Jane Hegerat here: http://www.literarymama.com/profiles/...
Read Literary Mama's full interview with Betty Jane Hegerat here: http://www.literarymama.com/profiles/...
September 16, 2011
This book caught my eye at the library and although I've never read books about murder, I decided I'd start with this one. I have to say it was not how I was expecting it to be, however it was still really good! I found it really interesting learning about the "Cook family murders" and after finishing this book, found I wanted to learn more.(there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of information online, which quite surprised me)
I was kind of skeptical in the beginning, as I have never read a book that is half fiction, half non-fiction. The author however, pulled it off quite well! I found myself thinking about this book for the rest of the day!
I was kind of skeptical in the beginning, as I have never read a book that is half fiction, half non-fiction. The author however, pulled it off quite well! I found myself thinking about this book for the rest of the day!
February 16, 2012
Brilliant book. I was given this book as a present and had no idea what to expect. Once I started to read it I was unable to put it down. I never know this awful crime had occurred in my province and was a great insight into history on this awful family murder. While the author is giving insight into the Cook family murder she was also writing a fiction story on a troubled boy who becomes a troubled young man. After reading this book I defiantly want to read the book by Jack Pecover.
July 7, 2011
I read this book a couple of weeks ago and could not put it down--it's a fascinating mix of fiction and nonficiton! Please see my review of it, along with a very interesting interview with the author on my website: Review of The Boy by Betty Jane Hegerat.
November 12, 2011
I love this book!Hegerat does a good job blending an historical incident (the hanging of a young man for the killing of his family) with a contemporary story-line (about another blended family with a troubled child.) Well written. The places and culture of Western Canada, particularly Alberta, are well represented.
January 13, 2014
This is such an interesting weaving of fact and fiction, truth and supposition, knowing and wondering. In many ways, The Boy is a simple book, and most of these are the very reason it is so complicated. Hegerat held my attention in a way I did not expect, as I suppose this story, in fact these STORIES, will for quite some time.
April 26, 2016
Wonderful true crime creative nonfiction book that weaves in some fiction as well. I loved the approach and the deep self-reflection Hegerat demonstrated as she wrestled with her interest in this macabre subject and the ultimate unknowability of people's motives, souls, and the 'truth'. Highly recommend this book for readers and teachers of the creative nonfiction genre.
January 27, 2014
I really found the author's method of writing this book very interesting. She was writing a fictional story which she intertwined with research she did on an actual murder case. It kept me reading to see how her research would work and how it would affect her fictional characters' lives.
February 17, 2012
I REALLY want to read more about Robert Raymond Cook now :)
April 20, 2012
Really enjoyed the way this was written.
November 18, 2013
Interesting storyline but incredibly repetitive. I got tired of it long before the ending.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews