Call the Canaries Home by Laura Barrow

This is the Teachers and Friends Book Club selection for December, chosen by Mrs. Tirollo.  We are having an apps/dessert potluck at her home again as our holiday gathering.  My vote would be "liked it" but not "loved it".

Savannah is the youngest of 3 (living) sisters.  Savannah's twin Georgia was kidnapped when they were children and is presumed murdered by a serial killer now on death row.  Savannah has stayed in their tiny, rural, relatively poor town to care for their grandmother Marylynn, known as Meemaw.  She bounces from menial jobs like waitressing and housekeeping. Oldest Rayanne married into money, drives a brand new SUV, has two young children, and survives on anxiety medication.  Middle sister Sue Ellen became an organic/vegan/fitness guru, moved to New York City, has several degrees, and is an English professor.  Their mother died shortly after their sister's kidnapping from cancer; their father lives nearby but is a deadbeat.  

25 years after Meemaw took custody of the girls, they return to dig up the time capsule they buried in the yard at their old home.  They find a photo of the last day the four girls were together, which triggers memories and sends Savannah on a quest to find a possible witness.        

As this is somewhat a murder mystery, I don't want to spoil too much.  I will say my initial guess was incorrect, and I was not satisfied at the end.  The ending felt rushed, almost as if it is a set up for a sequel.  This was told in alternating viewpoints from Meemaw and all 3 sisters, varying from the 60s to the present, but the focus is definitely Savannah, and I felt there is a set up for Sue Ellen to have the spotlight next.  However, I can't check because for some reason our filtering software is blocking the author's website.  Insert eye roll here. 

All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.