The Last Bridge by Teri Coyne

For most of her life, Cat has lived a confused, tormented existence under the thumb of her abusive father. After Cat's mother mysteriously commits suicide and leaves a provocative suicide note, Cat is suddenly thrown into a new world of uncertainty: is the man who has been abusing her really her father?

Written in a clear, stunning new voice, The Last Bridge by Teri Coyne is part mystery, part literary and primarily a personal journey through the life of a young woman. While the novel is billed as "ideal" for fans of Jodi Picoult, it lacks the signature legal element of much of Picoult's work, and rather than exploring the strength and love between family members, Coyne prefers to discuss the darkness and dysfunction between family members.

The novel flashes between the present, where Cat tracks down the truth of her biological parents while dealing with her father's hospitalization, and the many scattered memories of her childhood and the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father.

While this creates a unique, interesting portrait of a young woman, it is very depressing and the time changes so frequently that it can be hard for the reader to catch up. The story also tends to move a little slow and have little to no sense of a resolution.

Overall, The Last Bridge is a promising debut novel written in masterful, elegant prose, but the elements of plot are a little lacking and slow.