The Good Son

Zoe Emmerson has a secret, one she’s kept for years. Her quiet world is shaken when her past finally catches up with her: the investigation into the murder of a six-year-old neighbour is re-opened thirty years after the fact, threatening to destroy her and everyone she’s fought so hard to protect.

She was just a child when it happened, scared and confused, and she’s never been entirely sure what she saw. But she kept her brother’s suspected involvement in the murder from the police, and the knowledge that she withheld a crucial piece of information haunts her.

As the past collides with the present, Zoe is forced to face a most difficult truth.

AUTHOR

Carolyn Huizinga Mills

Carolyn Huizinga Mills began her career by writing short stories and in 2017, her story “Finders” placed second in the Alice Munro Short Story Competition. Carolyn’s first picture book, The Little Boy Who Lived Down the Drain, was chosen as a 2018 Blue Spruce Honour Book. The Good Son, her first novel, was published in 2021 and Grandpa’s Stars, her second picture book, was published in 2023. A grade seven teacher, Carolyn loves to share her passion for reading and writing with her students. She grew up in Calgary, Alberta, and now lives in southwestern Ontario with her husband and two children. In addition to reading and writing, Carolyn loves playing soccer, camping, travelling, and eating dark chocolate.

Reviews

“This book surprised me. Based on its cover, and its publisher (Cormorant Books), I was expecting a very literary novel, something with drawn out descriptions and hidden meanings, usually a bit slower in pace. Instead, I found a page-turner of a novel in The Good Son by Carolyn Huizinga Mills, something I raced to finish, excited to see if my theory was true or not.”
– I’ve Read This

The Good Son is a well-crafted, compelling, ‘holy cow I can’t believe this a debut’ story about complicated family dynamics and how one incident and an obsession changed the course of a woman’s life. … Carolyn Huizinga Mills is a wonderful addition to the Canadian author community and I eagerly look forward to reading more from her.”


– The Baking Bookworm

“A dark, tense, and brilliantly crafted family mystery.”
– Open Book

“A well-crafted, compelling story about complicated family dynamics and how one incident and an obsession changed the course of a woman’s life.”
– Check It Out

“Carolyn Huizinga Mills’s The Good Son (Cormorant Books) is a debut but no less masterful, blending the emotional complexity of family dynamics with page-turning suspense.”


– All Lit Up

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Excerpts & Samples ×

Zoe Emmerson has a secret, one she’s kept for years. Her quiet world is shaken when her past finally catches up with her: the investigation into the murder of a six-year-old neighbour is re-opened thirty years after the fact, threatening to destroy her and everyone she’s fought so hard to protect.

She was just a child when it happened, scared and confused, and she’s never been entirely sure what she saw. But she kept her brother’s suspected involvement in the murder from the police, and the knowledge that she withheld a crucial piece of information haunts her.

As the past collides with the present, Zoe is forced to face a most difficult truth.

Reader Reviews

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Details

Dimensions:

296 Pages

Published:

March 20, 2021

Publisher:

Cormorant Books

ISBN:

9781770865921

Book Subjects:

FICTION / Crime

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