The Complete Disaster

The Complete Disaster” (Book 2 in the Lawson Trilogy) by Sandra Hutchison 322 pages

Have you ever picked up a book by an author you love without knowing what it is about? I do…with lots of my favorite authors like Sandra Hutchison. When I got my copy of “The Complete Disaster, I had no idea this was Book 2 in a trilogy until something I read one sentence near the end. I mean, the male protagonist, Winslow, sounded familiar, but I read a lot so do I didn’t pay much attention. After I finished and paid attention to the back cover, four little words, “Six years after,” jumped out at me, and with a few keystrokes, I was able to learn that a book I thoroughly enjoyed years ago was its predecessor. Just goes to prove that author Hutchison’s talents are incredible…both are complete and total stand-alone novels.

So, I’ll start my review with Hutchison’s own words: “Six years after” Mary Bellamy, now Mrs. Wilson Jennings, overcomes a scandalous pregnancy and a marriage to the town cop is going well.  They live with their son, Will, in a ramshackle farmhouse on the land Winslow’s family has farmed for generations. Only a cousin continues to farm, leasing the land from Winslow’s dad.

The town is both horrified and intrigued by the latest arrivals to their small New Hampshire home. A family of Somali refugees has relocated here. The town does their best to ignore them, but Mary knows what it is like to be a stranger and does her best to make them feel welcome.

On patrol one afternoon, Winslow spots a Black man in a hoodie loitering outside some apartments. When he goes to investigate, then stranger flees. Winslow searches for him to no avail. When he encounters him again, Winslow pulls over and walks toward the person. When the person points something at him, Winslow draws his gun and fires.

The secondary plot involves Mary’s friend, Annie Sophie. Annie suffers from debilitating panic attacks, runs the local food pantry, and lives in the guest suite at St. Andrew’s rectory. Only a few people in town have a problem with this until a Scottish friend of Father Michaels arrives is also staying at the rectory. A romance soon blossoms, adding to the town’s tension because Annie is white, and Tom is Black.

Hutchison merely writes the story; there are no authorial judgements, however Annie and Mary do have judgmental townspeople to deal with. “The Complete Disaster” is an intriguing, compelling and touching read, set against today’s headlines without being set against today’s headlines. Kudos to Hutchison. Therefore, “The Complete Disaster” receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.