27. The News Where You Are by Catherine O'Flynn

Life for Frank Allcroft is changing.  He has a loving wife and eight-year-old daughter, Mo, and a successful career as a local news anchor, but around him things are causing him to question his life.  His mother is in a nursing home, living with past memories, and all around his hometown of Birmingham, England, buildings his late architect father build are being demolished.  His on-screen partner and father figure, Phil, who transitioned successfully into primetime television, was killed while out jogging.  Frank needs to know what happened to Phil that fateful day, and along the way discovers his own life is better than he thought.

This sophomore effort by O’Flynn is another winner.  At times funny, and at times sad, it is also an observation on family, friendship, aging, and loss on many levels.  O’Flynn’s stripped down, stark writing works well to show Frank’s struggle to find happiness again.  For a review of O’Flynn’s excellent first book, What Was Lost, please read http://tcplpicks.blogspot.com/2008/11/what-was-lost-by-catherine-oflynn.html