Emendare

by R.E. Bradshaw

"Her name is Jane Doe? Really? You aren't joking?""Yes. Her father's name was John Doe. Her mother's last name was Smith. Jane Smith Doe, that's her. Her dad said he guaranteed her anonymity for life. Thought it was funny."Forty years away from Doe's Ferry, it didn't take long for word to get around that Jane Doe had come home. Most people remained unconcerned with her arrival-memories of young Jane having been long forgotten or never known. But like any tiny place with tiny minds, the whispers at her sudden reappearance revived old rumors and fanned long cold embers into a blaze."So, you haven't set foot in Doe's Ferry since 1979, what finally brought you back?""Do I have to answer that question?""You didn't come home when your father died in 2000. With your history, you can see why this sudden appearance would concern me.""My history? Which part? The part where we were cradle to grave friends, all of us, or the part where one of us died, three of us lied, and one of us went to prison.""I'm assuming that means this isn't a nostalgic trip home.""No point in pretending..." There were those who wished Jane had stayed gone. Most folks were willing to let the past die with the ones that lived it-but not Jane, and not the person who sent the package that summoned her home. Wrongs needed righting. The time had come for the truth of what happened at Doe's Ferry to come to light. Jane Doe has come home to amend the record, to make it right: Emendare.

Genres: Mystery

192 pages, Paperback

First published April 20, 2019

About the author

How did a girl from the Outer Banks of North Carolina end up writing contemporary women's fiction in Oklahoma? Well, there has to be a woman involved. Bradshaw began her writing career in 2010, after leaving Theatre and teaching. Since then, her novels ranging from the popular romance, Waking Up Gray, to the Lambda Literary Award Finalists, thriller Rainey Nights and mystery Molly: House on Fire, have remained among Amazon’s bestsellers in lesbian fiction. All of Bradshaw’s books, thus far, are set in her beloved home state of North Carolina. She was transplanted from the coast to the Heartland by the love of her life, an Oklahoma girl, with whom she celebrate twenty-five years in June 2013. They have a son, Jon, and share their home with two dogs and two cats.

Reviews

[Jo reece · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't a romance book... what you got here is an absolute 'spot on' crime/mystery read that is very moving! I can not fault this book at all...

Absolutely chuffing brilliant!

[Lexxi Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I recall correctly, R.E. Bradshaw is one of the first authors I read who wrote lesbian fiction. And, if I recall correctly, I got into lesbian fiction through the early mysteries. Which is how I got into Bradshaw, through her mystery series. Though it is two of her romances (a series itself) that got onto my 5 star self. Well this book here is also a mystery.

This was something of a tough book to read. Because of the lives ruined, and the lives misdirected.

The main character, whose name really is Jane Doe, grew up in a particular small North Carolina town. She had some great friends she grew up with, family members and other. And her life looked like it was going to be going in the right direction, despite some of the hardships and roadblocks in her way. Until one particular roadblock knocked her off that path and put her into jail. For a long period of time. The book opens with Jane Doe back in that small town. 50 years old. Hadn't planned to ever return, but a cold case mystery has lured her back.

A deeply satisfying and good book. This is not a romance book, though. I rather liked what I saw of Jane.

Rating: 4.60

September 27 2020

[Margaret L. Hedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!

Can I please say WOW again. Emendare is such a moving book. The depth of the secrets, lies and cover-ups was mind blowing. Thank You, R. E. Bradshaw, for the ending. I really needed the release of the tension I was feeling while reading. Such a sad commentary on life in America.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing wrong to say about this book. Lies, deceptions, secrets, it's all there until it's not. R.E. Bradshaw at her best.

[Philip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Childhood friends reunite over a series of tragedies which happened 40 years ago. Solid mystery told from an outcast's point of view, Jane comes home to Doe's Ferry to uncover the truth of what happened to her best friend. Everyone in town has multiple secrets and in the unraveling of them, Jane discovers the truth.

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book has had lots of really good reviews, so I was quite surprised at times I found it quite a difficult read.
My first problem was the story didn’t flow, this was in part because of the way the author told Jane’s disjointed back-story by jumping backwards and forwards in time, it didn’t help that the back-story was so depressing.
My main difficulty, was again of my own making, I suppose I came to the story naively expecting Jane to return home seeking out those responsible for the injustices in her life and ready to wreak vengeance on the perpetrators. It was only in the last quarter of the book that we saw a little of this and I found myself beginning to really enjoy the story.
I also got a bit annoyed with the author when she repeatedly had somebody interrupted, just as they are about to say something important.
Having said that, the story does come to a very satisfactory ending, with some interesting quotes;
“I came to the conclusion that this must be what America looked like to the rest of the world—a minority of crazed, ignorant, heavily armed, easily influenced, arrogant pricks shouting, “Lock them up,” at the majority who stand dazed”.

[XR · Rating 5 out of 5]

I freaking loved this book! The things that came out of little Jane Doe's mouth were bloody hilarious. The whodunit mystery kept me on my toes and if I didn't have to sleep, I would not have put the book down. The shout out to Molly Kincaid was cool too. I've seriously missed reading Bradshaw's books and I hadn't realised there were new books published, so I got to read three in a row. I hope there's more to come.

[M.E. Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? Small town drama, loyalty, justice denied and justice served. Bradshaw weaves the past and present together skillfully demonstrating how things have changed and how they never change. Jane Doe is a formidable character just by her existence and her return to her home town to solve a forty year old mystery.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was intense. It went back and forth from the present to the past. Bradshaw weaved the past and the present together seamlessly. While I knew what had happened, the tension and dread still built up as I read more of what happened in the past.

Jane returned to her hometown after mysteriously receiving some documents regarding her cousin Malachi's death after decades of staying away. She meets some of her former childhood friends who want to know why she's there. This was so well written that you know Jane is still fond of them although she doesn't trust them.

This book points out several contradictory facets of life in the US. The childhood friends are four white and one black kid. They are all close friends but the race divide is ever present. There are things that cannot be done. The other characters are also emblematic of the US: Vietnam vets, the drunks, the closeted, the hopeful kids, the powerful, the racist, and the willfully ignorant. Lots of secrets exist in this small town that aren’t so secret. I come from the other coast and this could have been my town in the 70s. You can probably tell this stirred up memories. This will resonate with me for awhile.

[AnnieWillow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story about who is who and what is what. Revolves around friendship, family, hatred, lies, judgement, coverups that will hook you to the end. And if you're looking for romance, you won't find it here.

Romance aside, this book is definitely a win!

[Marta Minder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book as usual, R. E. Bradshaw has not written a book that I have not enjoyed. What would you do if your entire life was ruined in one night? Then forty years later you have the chance to tell the world the truth. This book does exactly that. I loved the pace and the epiphanies that come with the telling and finding of the truth. You would pursue the truth and expose it to the world. Do not think that fans of the Rainey Bell series did not see that you slipped Molly into the ending of the story. Set aside the time and enjoy Emendare.

[Tammy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A focused frenzy of small town deception. Love it!

I know the terrain well. This excellent story achieves its titled purpose. I’ve walked the narrow footpath of the unspoken social expectations of the rural South. Sweetly & subtlety the ghosts of Faulkner & Welty take you along w RE Bradshaw’s Jane Doe. Great storytelling to be enjoyed by all of us tomboys who grew up with the notion that guys are pals and girls are to be cautiously trusted. Loved it!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read everything by this author & loved it all. This book was so different. It will stick with me for a long time. What a great mystery that has so many unexpected twists as it unravels. I was riveted. Great to have an “appearance” from Molly Kincaid at the end. I know she nailed all those bastards to the wall.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing work of fictionalized reality that lays bare the horrors of the 1970s and the long aftermath of the traumas created back then. While technically a mystery, it's more of "what happened" than a "who done it" though the latter is also an excellent denouement. Bradshaw has shared that this book is a total fiction, but grounded in a real story that she didn't feel she could reveal.

[Kierri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sooo good

Excellent. This has got to be mu favorite book by this author. I'm not sure how she did it but I felt like I was right there growing up with these kids. You won't be dissapointed.

[Ajay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is story of hot headed /kind hearted teenager girl whose loud mouth lead to death of her best friend /cousin ...prison to his friend ...and in the whole process she fucked up her life too gone to prison lost a good future. This book is interesting

[pam kayser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery

A great story about life in the 70's, from kids to adults, with a mystery of who killed a little black kid. I was truly stomped on this one.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this story. Relevant. Intense. Truth hidden behind the lies. Well done... yet again. Bradshaw gets better with every book!

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bradshaw has outdone herself with this tale. The story spans over 30 years and carefully weaves the past with the present. I was on the edge of my seat as the tension built and the layers unraveled.

Jane Doe received mail that forced her to make a return trip to where she grew up. She elected to stay away because of the death of a close friend and being framed as a drug dealer. As the old gang reunites, the true events of that fretful night start to unfold. Lies become truth when the moonlight goes dim.

This story is so well written. It chronicles the racial divine and the homophobic nature of America...then and now. The characters in this novel can be anyone in America...I know these people. They are people you love, people you can't stand, people you tolerate, and people that don't deserve the air they breath. Treat yourself to a coffee, cozy chair, and quiet time so you can enjoy real literature.

[Fleppy85 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living in a time where it is more and more acceptable to hate somebody, to bully people and lie without consequences, Emendare is not only the story of four kids in the seventies, it's also a reminder of how society worked and still works. When you're rich and famous you get away with many things, people believe you, no matter what you say and it's always an easy solution to blame somebody, who is poor and different to most of the other people.
Jane Doe has been sent to prison for something she didn't do, but that's not what worries her most. Her friend, blood brother, was killed forty years ago and the killer has never been convicted. Suddenly, she gets a message from Doe's Ferry, the place she grew up. Apparently, somebody else wants to uncover what really happened in 1979.
Jane goes back to Doe's Ferry and not everybody is happy to see her.
And she learns some things about her childhood friends, she didn't know.