Come On Down to The Dancehall

This was a long read for me. It had nothing to do with the quality of the book (because it was a great book with an interesting story), but I just couldn’t seem to get my mind to focus on reading the past couple of weeks. My aunt recommended this book to me, and I am glad that she did, because it was the perfect combination of everything I enjoy in a book: a little bit of mystery, a dash of scandal, a touch of betrayal, and—of course—a hunt for the truth behind a murder that happened more than twenty years ago.

Dancehall by Bernard F. Conners is a captivating story that takes the reader on a journey through two different periods of time, linked together by the same crime. In the present day (1982), readers are exposed to David Powell and his family as they are suddenly caught up in a scandal that goes back twenty years. In the flashback narrative (1962), readers get to see the events of the scandal unfold before them. This dual narrative technique creates a compelling story that keeps the mind bouncing back and forth in time trying to figure out the clues and piece together the puzzle-like mystery surrounding the murder of Ann Conway.

This dual perspective works really well for this book, because it shrouds the story in mystery. Because only small pieces of the Ann Conway murder case are revealed at a time, the reader’s imagination is forced to fill in the gaps as they are left in suspense. While the events of the murder are revealed sparingly, so too are the events facing David Powell and his family as the detective agencies begin to question people and ultimately build a case to bring down a murderer.

What really stood out in this book was the way that Conners was able to keep the suspense alive throughout the entirety of the story. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end. The way that Conners revealed information and wove tiny clues into his writing made the story seem more realistic. Conners also has an uncanny ability to create detailed imagery through his words. As you read, you can begin to picture all of the different places from this story in your mind; the way that he writes about Camp Louise, the Powell home, the choppy depths of Lake Placid, and even the solitude of the Green Haven prison paint a picture of the Adirondacks that brought this story to life.

Despite my enjoyment, when the story came to an end I was left with a few questions. I won’t pose those questions here, because I don’t want to give anything away, but I did feel a little unsatisfied with the way that everything came to an end.

All in all, I think that this was a great read, and I would highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in diving deep into the waters of a decades-old murder mystery. The characters are relatable, and feel real enough that you actually feel for them, the setting was beautifully described, and made it feel as though you're actually there, nestled in the Adirondacks all those years ago. This books has heart, soul, humor, mystery, and tragedy, but there is also a small light of hope that follows the characters (especially David Powell) as the details of the story unfold. If you are looking to get sucked into a good mystery, I would highly recommend that you give Dancehall a try.

I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars.