Brown Dwarf

by K.D. Miller

Returning to her childhood home in Hamilton, Brenda Bray must finally face up to her youthful friendship with Jori, a classmate who disappeared after they sought to track and catch an escaped serial killer believed to be hiding out on the escarpment.

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Lucile Barker]

190. Brown Dwarf by K. D. Miller
Brenda Bray, who at 12 was chubby and unhappy, has morphed into a successful writer of Victorian mystery novels, Bree, but her childhood, in Hamilton, Ontario, still haunts her, as does the disappearance of her best friend, Jori. Brenda’s father died of a heart attack when she was less than a year old, and her mother, Annie, has been unable to come to terms with his death. She alternates between berating Brenda about her weight and stuffing her. When Jori befriends Brenda, she finds Jori’s interests and family confusing. Jori is almost obsessed with finding a serial killer who may be hiding on the side of the escarpment, and draws Brenda into the search. Great portraits of Annie and Jori’s parents. There are two narrators, the young Brenda and the recreated one. Like Brenda, I have problems with Hamilton, and her relief on her mother’s death (I’ll never have to go back there again) was echoed in my own life.

[Lynda Simmons]

Beautifully written. Taut, tense and delightfully funny at unexpected moments. I couldn't put the book down and finished it quickly, but found the ending disappointing. For me, there was no real climax. It just kind of fizzled and stopped. But I would definitely pick up another of K.D. Miller's books, for the beauty of the writing alone.

[Emma]

A great mystery with a unique plot. Worth the read, especially if you're looking for a good, short book.

[Cynthia]

started well but then tended to drift into confusion .... skimmed the last bit so did not read it in full

[Maureen]

Jori and Brenda become friends; Jori disappears. Nearly 50 years later Brenda returns to her home town and goes over the events that lead up to her friends disappearance. Written partly as Brenda's current thoughts and partly as the events unfolded in 1962 leading up to what finally happened. The ending is disappointing but upon reflection fits in with the tome of the book.

[Billy]

Je me suis laissé complètement emporter par cette histoire racontée à plusieurs voix. Une étrange relation, avec comme toile de fond, la famille, l'amitié mais aussi les secrets, la timidité , l'intimidation... Et les non-dits dévastateurs ! Étrange et déroutant. Bonne lecture quelque peu exigeante mais qui en vaut la peine...

[David]

Read my review on New York Journal of Books: http://goo.gl/5YWBP