The Bullet

by Mary Louise Kelly

 

What if during a routine medical exam you were informed you had a bullet lodged in your neck. What if you’ve never been shot? You would believe it was a medical error, a funny story to tell family, friends and at parties. That’s the reaction of Caroline Cashion, a thirty-seven year old professor of French literature. In fact, she’s having dinner with her parents that evening. They’ll all get a good laugh out of it. Except, Caroline’s parents don’t laugh. They get very quiet, and in the blink of an eye, Caroline learns she isn’t who she thinks she is. In fact, most of her life has been a lie. Kelly takes this premise and runs with it at breakneck speed, crafting a book that will keep you up at night.  

During the course of the novel, Caroline transforms into a woman who directs her life, rather than simply letting it happen to her, as she sets out to find out the truth of who she really is. It is Kelly’s ability to make this alteration in Caroline’s life believable that makes this novel work. The characters in The Bullet are well developed, even the minor ones. Yet, this does not slow the pace of the novel at all. The unique premise of this novel could have failed. Kelly makes it succeed admirably. There are more twists and turns in this book than in a Grand Prix race.

   This book gets a solid 4 stars, maybe 4.5. Buy this book with one cautionary note: don’t start it late at night and don’t blame me when you can’t put it down.

            Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.