Family history has always fascinated me. The decisions made by people before you were born that led to your existence. The lives of people you’ve never met but have shaped you in so many ways whether it’s your nose or your chin or your love of the water. We are all a conglomeration of the people that came before us. And many of those people had secrets.

It is a hard thing to realize that you don’t really know your closest family members. You know them through the lens of their relation to you, and it’s hard to think of them as existing before you, especially your parents. Often you know the funny stories, the brief glimpses into childhoods, but most don’t tell you about the toughest moments in their lives.

This book tackles all of that. It deals with racism, gambling addiction, murder, reinventing yourself, workplace sexual harassment and assault, and the bonds of family.

It is just so stinking good. Each of the characters are well-developed so that you feel a connection with each of them. The mystery aspect builds into a very satisfying conclusion.

This is one of the best books that I’ve read all year so you should definitely read it too.