Trails in the Dust by Joy Dettman is the seventh installment
in the Woody Creek series. It follows Jenny Hooper and her extended family, as
they grapple with their own issues and how these may come to impact the family
to a larger extent. While it is the seventh book in the series, it can be read
as a stand alone as the reader can gain most of the context from within the
book.
The synopsis:
After many tumultuous years spent grappling with the past, Jenny
Hooper might have expected her latter years to be the best of her life, and
they are - until tragedy strikes. Left floundering in a house full of memories,
not all of them good, Jenny knows a reckoning is in order.But it won't be easy.
History is beginning to repeat itself for Jenny's adopted daughter, Trudy, who
finds herself trapped in an abusive relationship. Jenny and her older daughter,
Georgie, can only stand by and watch as Trudy's life implodes. Meanwhile, half
a world away in the UK, Cara and her husband Morrie nurture a devastating
secret that keeps them at arm's length from Jenny. But most of all, Jenny wants
to renew contact with the beloved son she lost decades before when she was at
her lowest ebb. Only that, and having the chance to tell him the truth about
what happened, will give her peace. But is it too late?
Trails in the Dust was my first Joy Dettman book so going
into this, I was unsure what to expect or if I would be able to begin my
reading journey of the series, starting with the final book. I feel like it
would benefit readers to pick up from the beginning of the series, for clarity
and to see the journeys that the various characters have taken over time.
Despite this, it certainly could be read independently and most of the plot
will make sense.
Dettman has cemented herself as an author that excels when
writing about small, rural towns. The small Australian town vibe in this book
connects the reader to the plot from the first chapter. Throughout the course
of the book, we are provided with various different lenses to deepen our
understanding of the situations which come about through the multiple POV. This
is done in such a way that the reader is able to consider one character in a
variety of different ways and how those around them feel about them. The main
perspective focused on is that of key character Jenny. Jenny is portrayed as a
caring mother at the beginning, yet this is contradicted during this book as
she attempts to reconnect with her long lost son. This is a sore point for
Jenny and due to this and other critical events during the book, Jenny is
portrayed as someone who is quite flighty and willing to take risks. I found
some of the decisions Jenny made over the course of the book difficult to
understand, due to events which had previously unfolded. This adds to the
quality of the book, as Dettman has the ability to make somewhat rash decisions
feel natural and like something that would occur in real life situations. The
inclusion of the flashbacks to various different points of Jenny’s (and the
other character’s lives) were also insightful. The reader was able to attain a
greater understanding of the context of the situations at hand and why they
were so significant.
Trails in the Dust is quite a realistic book. The events and
situations which unfold throughout the book are things which could easily occur
within real life. The tragic death of loved ones, foster caring, domestic
violence, issues relating to old age in general and adoption are all topics
which are covered in the book. The characters within the book are also painted
as imperfect too. Each of the characters have their own personal issues that
they are coming to terms with and attempting to resolve. Some of these issues
impact other characters in the book, while others just impact themselves.
Despite the majority of the book being realistic, I found the part near the end
where Nick is high on drugs and kidnaps Jenny to be somewhat unrealistic.Despite this, I could see how it was included due to the build up of tension between Nick and Jenny's daughter Trudy, throughout the course of the book.
I did find the book to be a little hard to read and follow
at some points and am unsure whether this would have been aided if I had read
the previous six books in the series. This may be due to the author’s incredibly
descriptive style of writing which does take some adapting to. I also found the
characters to be quite unlikeable, I’m not sure whether this was what the author
was going for or not. They were so immersed within their own bubbles that they
were not aware of what was going on around them and the implications their own
actions were having on the world around them. There were also so many different
characters, it was difficult to decipher who was related to who when it was
often never explicitly stated, especially in relation to some of the side characters. This may be easier for those who have read the
other books in the series.
Overall, Trails in the Dust was a nice change of genre for
me. I would recommend to those who enjoy books set around small country towns
with an emphasis upon family. While it certainly can be read as a standalone,
if you would like a little more context, I would recommend checking out the
first book in the Woody Creek series.
I rated this book: 3 Stars ⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to MacMillan Publishers for providing me with a
copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is now available for purchase in Australia from
bookstores nationwide.
Publication date: 25th June 2019
Publication form: Trade paperback
RRP: $32.99
