Review: The Railwayman's Wife

The Railwayman's Wife

Ashley Hay

Ani and Mac Lachlan are a young married couple with a ten year old daughter living in Thirroul Australia in the mid 1940's. Their life is a happy one until Mac is killed in a work accident. After Mac's death, Ani is giving a job at the local library by the railway company. The story moves back and forth between Ani's new life and her old life. There are her encounters with Roy, the local poet, who has recently returned to the village after serving in the war, and the local doctor, who has also been away during the war. The story also drifts back to her past, like a dream detailing how she and Mac meet and came to be in the coastal village of Thirroul.

Unfortunately, I found the story a bit too slow moving and as a result, boring. It seemed to lack tension and maybe conflict that might have kept me wanting to know more about the characters and what happened to them. Ashley Hay has a nice writing style, dream-like and poetic, which fits the story. Sadly, it just wasn't enough to keep me interested in the story as a whole.

Thanks to  Shelf Awareness giveaway and Atria Books for allowing me to read the advanced reader's copy.