A contemporary Christian novel, “A Table by the Window” tells the story of Carley Reed, a young woman with a troubled past who discovers that she is the heir of a large home and the money that goes along with it. Traveling to Mississippi to sell the home, she falls in love with the area and with family members she never knew she had, and predictably decides to stay. Up until this point, the book was fairly been there, done that, but then it started to take on a new shape as Carley discovers that there’s more than meets the eye in this small Mississippi town.
Some time before her arrival, a young mother was killed by a drunk driver who fled the scene. Although posters were put up all over town and the information sent to all the surrounding counties, no one could identify the vehicle or the driver. In addition, a young woman and her lover had mysteriously disappeared, leaving behind their families as they began a new life together. At least, that’s what the townspeople believed.
As Carley gets to know the inhabitants of her new neighborhood and learns their stories, she begins to wonder what really happened. Brooke, a troubled teenager, provides many of the clues and in fact, solves the mystery herself, redeeming her colorful reputation and making herself a heroine in the process.
Police Chief Dale, Steve Underwood, Aunt Helen, Uncle Rory, and an obnoxious cousin-in-law named Blake flesh out this cast of characters who fill Carley’s life with richness she never experienced before.
My only criticism is that the mystery portion of the novel seemed to come along a bit too late, almost as an afterthought. We aren’t introduced to the mysterious aspects of the book until the second half, and I would have liked to have some foreshadowing a bit sooner. I would like to congratulate the author, though, on the way she tells the reader bits and pieces of Carley’s childhood. The things she experienced were not pretty, but the author didn’t dwell on the details, instead dropping a hint and letting the reader deduce the best. Better to dwell on the triumph than the trial.
And while this is Christian fiction, I didn’t find the Christian aspect to be heavy-handed or contrived. It flowed naturally with the story, blending in to the characters’ lives and adding richness to the story, not dumping ketchup in preachy puddles on the plate. All in all, a very enjoyable read.
(This book was published in 2005 by Bethany House)