Claire Mulligan

Extremely well researched and uncommonly strong in use of colloquial language of the period and location; thorough look at culture from the period surrounding the concept of "Good Death", and desire to connect with the dearly departed; unfolds among interesting contemporary popular culture and events such as the Franklin Expedition, the Civil War, the Second Great Awakening, Women's Suffrage and the Temperance Movement; as much character & relationship-driven as plot-driven. Not a fast read, but well-written; requires faith in both the author and the premise of the story to wade through the early chapters, which are a bit slow-moving.… (mere)