BookBrowse Reviews Carolina Moonset by Matt Goldman

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Part murder mystery, part family drama, Carolina Moonset focuses on a son's love for his father.

As Matt Goldman's Carolina Moonset opens, Chicago native Joey Green has arrived in Beaufort, South Carolina to visit his parents. It quickly becomes clear that the trip is one of obligation, designed to give his mother a much-needed break; she's become the full-time caregiver for his father, Marshall, who's developed Lewy Body Dementia, a condition similar to Alzheimer's disease (see Beyond the Book). Although Marshall's short-term memory is completely shot, his recollections of the past have become increasingly sharp, and as he reminisces Joey learns of a pair of unsolved murders that occurred during his father's senior year of high school. His curiosity is piqued, and when one of Beaufort's most prominent citizens is killed, Joey comes to believe the crime is related to the incidents from his father's memories. If that's the case, Marshall may hold the key to solving all of the murders, past and present.

Although the mystery at the heart of the novel drives the plot forward, the author explores a number of complex themes as well, such as post-divorce romance, caring for one's aged parents and life in a small town where everyone knows everyone else. I generally feel that a short book with this much going on is overstuffed and find myself wishing the author had trimmed out a plotline or two. Goldman, however, balances the various threads skillfully; all of them are equally enthralling and beautifully interwoven, so much so that I found the mystery itself a less interesting aspect of the narrative, almost an afterthought in this superbly wrought family drama.

The book is narrated entirely by Joey, and Goldman's ability to give voice to this character is perhaps the most outstanding aspect. Through his inner monologue readers develop a sense of who this person truly is; he's well-rounded and likable, with a great sense of humor — someone you easily grow fond of and want to know more about. He's also a somewhat unreliable narrator — claiming he lacks empathy when that's clearly not the case, for instance. It's rare to find a first-person account that creates such a three-dimensional portrait of the speaker, but Goldman accomplishes this feat brilliantly.

The author is also particularly adept at capturing dialogue. Joey's playful banter with his developing love interest, girl-next-door Leela, seems especially realistic and brought a smile to my face as I remembered early romances from my own past. His patient conversations with his father, too, hit exactly the right notes, a combination of wanting to interact with a beloved parent while realizing that parent is reaching the end of their life. I felt Joey's simultaneous heartbreak and resignation when his father exclaims, "Look! Joey's here! When did you arrive?" each time the two are reunited after being apart for just a few minutes.

I found the book's pacing to be excellent; it's not exactly a page-turner but it certainly held my attention. Goldman's lush descriptions, too, bring the setting of Beaufort to life, creating vivid pictures of the community and its waterways and marshes.

The only minor disappointment I had with the plot involved the older murder mystery. It seemed like people knew who had murdered whom way back in the day, and why these crimes weren't investigated more fully at the time wasn't made clear. There were a few twists, but really very little came as a surprise. The guilty party in the present-day murder was less obvious, but that part of the plot lacked depth. As mentioned previously, though, the murders never really feel like the point, and I so loved everything else about the novel that it remains one of my favorites despite the lackluster mystery.

I found Carolina Moonset to be an excellent work of literary fiction, and I highly recommend it as such. Those looking for a taut murder mystery may find it a bit of a letdown, but readers interested in a high-quality novel about aging and the complexities of middle age will definitely appreciate it. I look forward to exploring Goldman's other works, and I'm sure this one will win him many new fans.

This review first ran in the July 13, 2022 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.