The women of the Farrow family are all cursed. When the book opens, we are introduced to June Farrow as she buries her grandmother Margaret, and is faced with the sad realization she is the last living Farrow. Because all the females eventually submit to madness, June firmly intends to remain childless and end this bane permanently.
Susanna, June’s mother, disappeared after abandoning her child and is believed dead. Margaret raised June, but suffered from the disease for several months before succumbing. Birdie, a long time family friend and Mason, June’s childhood friend (June and Mason are slightly in love with each other but reluctant to pursue it because of the curse) are both there to help her with her grief. The townspeople ostracize the family because of their reputation and their lack of participation in the local church. They only interact with them for their flowers: they run a family farm renowned in the region for unusual and beautiful blooms.
June has been suffering from episodes for nearly a year now and is writing the details of her “hallucinations” in a journal. She sees the same horse, a mysterious red door, and hears the voice of man repeatedly. Then images of a man, Nathaniel Rutherford, begin to appear. He was murdered decades earlier and the crime was never solved. Then June receives a photograph of Nathaniel and his wife in the mail, and the woman turns out to be her mother! Which is impossible unless Susanna could time travel.
June researches the town and church records and discovers the evidence that sets her on a quest to discover the complete truth. Birdie advises her to go through the red door, but will not explain much more. June begins to question everything she believed about her life and her family members, but goes through the door the next time it appears to discover that she has an entire other existence.
As the novel proceeds, June slowly unearths the entire truth of her family and her involvement in Nathaniel’s murder. Young keeps her readers engaged, though there are a few instances where some sentences could have been edited a bit sharper to make the clues and revelations easier to understand. There are enough twists and turns and action to keep it interesting and a definite page turner. The reader will be rooting for June and satisfied with their choice to read this book!
