The Way the Crow Flies

Anne-Marie MacDonald

Seven years ago I read a book titled Fall On Your Knees by Anne Marie MacDonald. The book was little known, at the time, but was immediately placed on my top ten ( or twenty) list of all time favorites. Since that time Oprah chose her book as one of her monthly picks and I have found that MacDonald has received many Canadian awards for her novel. MacDonald, who lives in Canada, has published a new book titled "The Way the Crow Flies". When I spied this on the bookstore shelf, the question as to whether to wait for sale stacks or the paper edition, did not apply. I was not disappointed. The book is a sophisticated mystery story, a trip back to the "Cold War" and an intense look at a young girls childhood. There are several parts of the story ( the explanations of military rank and some of the adult social interactions ) that get bogged down, but the story over all is more than worth the effort. The main part of the novel takes place on a Canadian Military base during the 1960s. The main character is feisty eight year old army brat, Madeleine. Sad, funny, intense and thought provoking would all apply to this "murder mystery". One of the little girls in Madeleine's class is murdered and an older child on the base is blamed for the murder. The plot is so well constructed , the twists and turns so well done that Madeleine is not able to reconstruct what really happen until well into her adult life. Good stuff....this book. I hope I don't have to wait another seven years to hear from Anne-Marie MacDonald again !