Interesting Mystery Meets College Memoir
Julie Patel? Her name still
haunts me.
Bradstreet Gate is a poignant
look at college life and murder wrapped up neatly in a beautifully designed paperback
format. Shown on the edition I’d read, the cover alone depicts a sinister
wrought iron gate slightly ajar, leading to mist shrouded grounds, littered
with Victorian buildings. Dark windows and shadowy doorways allow the mind to
wander while reading the pages of this story. 3 friends find themselves caught
in a web of lies and half-truths. Lives of mystery and second guessing. A
situation that would almost crush any 20-something student juggling not only
their already frail academic careers, but their vain attempt at maturity as
well. Honestly, if a friend was murdered, I believe that would catapult a
person directly into maturity and possible even acceptance of mortality, or destroy
their life.
But I will now digress from my
meandering half-assed poetic musing. Georgia, Charlie and Alice join the ranks
of new faces on campus, beginning their freshman year with high hopes. Some of
the trio arrived on good faith and a name, while others had to rely on hard work
and perseverance to reach this moment. Along the way they’ve all come together
in friendship and understanding and even lustful affairs, while also attempting
to understand a charismatic professor whom both baffles and mystifies them.
Suspicions begin to arise concerning the trio and professor when a star
student, Julie Patel is murdered outside her dorm room, frankly in full view of
the entire school.
Decades pass and this tragic
situation seems to be forgotten, not completely but nearly. Always looming in
the back of each person’s head. Secrets come to light and questions begin to
stir desperately seeking answers. Bradstreet Gate is an intelligently written whodunit
leaving the reader aching for more with every turning page, holding on dearly
to every word until the final climax allows a somewhat stark truth that results
in a sense of unfinished business. Closure on the horizon, but never quite
attained.
I gave Bradstreet Gate a 4 out of
5. I enjoyed the story and dialogue, but felt slightly disenchanted with the
ending. I was willing to forgive if the moment and confession was presented,
but unfortunately I was left slightly unsatisfied. Perhaps I missed something?
I’m willing to give this a second read.
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