After I’m Gone
Summary:
When Felix Brewer meets Bernadette “Bambi” Gottschalk at a Valentine’s Dance in 1959, he charms her with wild promises, some of which he actually keeps. Thanks to his lucrative—if not all legal—businesses, she and their three little girls live in luxury. But on the Fourth of July, 1976, Bambi’s comfortable world implodes when Felix, newly convicted and facing prison, mysteriously vanishes.
Though Bambi has no idea where her husband—or his money—might be, she suspects one woman does: his mistress, Julie. When Julie disappears ten years to the day that Felix went on the lam, everyone assumes she’s left to join her old lover—until her remains are eventually found. (retrieved from: http://www.lauralippman.net/after-im-gone-1/)
Group Reviews/Comments:
It was all around thumbs up from the 11 members who had read the book.
Excellent writing was praised, and one member commented that the author was able to “get inside people’s (her character’s) heads.” Another member made the point that although the characters were all likeable [perhaps, redeemed] at the end, there were points throughout were each character was unlikable–just like real life.
The story, the plot and the characters were all strong. No one guessed the ending to the mystery either, although everyone agreed it was a perfectly fitting ending that made complete sense.
Some felt challenged by the way the time frame went back and forth, but agreed this is a typical “cold case” style and this author handled it well.
We spent quite a bit of time talking about Felix, whose presence was felt despite his absence. His strength of presence was well juxtaposed against his weakness of character in the choices he made.
One reader made the point that although the mystery was well done, the mystery wasn’t the main focus. Rather, the novel was really about how all these people’s lives were changed by one man. Another reader commented about the very realistic “sister dynamic” which was a large part of the novel.
The very end [spoiler alert], when we saw our last glimpse of Felix, felt spot on to the group. All alone in the end–poetic and real justice.
