FICTION

The Insect Farm

by Stuart Prebble
Mulholland: Little, Brown. Jul. 2015. 320p. ISBN 9780316337366. $26; ebk. ISBN 9780316337373. F
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Though a handsome young man, Roger Maquire has the mental acuity of an eight-year-old child. With no hope of ever living independently, the place Roger is happiest is in the shed behind his parents' house. It is here that he rules a kingdom of his own making, known as the insect farm. Jonathan Maquire is a devoted younger brother but with dreams that involve his girlfriend and going away to university. And then his parents die in a fire. Unable to bear the thought of Roger being put in a home, Jonathan leaves school to become his sibling's full-time caregiver. Unfortunately, the arrangement puts stress on Jonathan's relationship and it soon becomes clear that one of the brothers isn't who he seems.
VERDICT Jonathan is honest and believable as he tells his tale in a way that slowly builds anticipation and dread. Clues left along the way, however, make the ending feel predictable and contrived. Despite these flaws, readers might find this book to be a welcome diversion from the typical cookie-cutter mystery.
Reviewed by Vicki Briner, Westminster, CO , Jun 15, 2015
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