A review by lampbee
The Good Son by Jacquelyn Mitchard

emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I really liked it in hindsight but the process / experience of reading it got very frustrating as the book went on. I felt like I was waiting for more information the entire book. The story of the mother and her son is really well done I think , and the idea of guilt and responsibility and vindication + revenge etc were all fleshed out well, but the actual driving force, the “mystery” element was almost so annoying as to make you stop caring.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Gore, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Lesbophobia, Drug abuse, Death, and Addiction

Moderate: Confinement

The story behind Stephan’s work to get himself back to a functional and worthwhile member of society is interesting , and you do find yourself hoping that

he wasn’t the one to kill Belinda

but any plot point that leads to that is so tedious. The entire character of

Esme

makes you want to tear your hair out. She seems to pop up periodically to remind the reader that they don’t have the full picture but frustratingly never elaborates until the last 15% of the book.