New Review: Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate

 "Nothing can keep the truth buried; it will always unfurl itself, lay itself bare. It is unstoppable - like the tide, or a storm, or a ghost."

Twenty-Seven Minutes by Ashley Tate is equal parts small town thriller and intimate, insightful window into grief and loss.

Ten years have passed since the tragic accident which caused the death of West Wilmer’s golden child, Phoebe Dean. The accident still looms over the community, and as the anniversary approaches, the wound is still fresh for many. June is just one of the people trying to move on, but from an event that no one seems to want to acknowledge: her brother Wyatt’s disappearance on the same night of the accident. Grant, Phoebe’s brother, is constantly haunted by the night of the accident, constantly being asked why he waited twenty-seven minutes to call for help. And Becca, also involved in the accident, fights to be seen and have her hurt and pain acknowledged. Told through multiple perspectives, we get a window into each character’s journey towards the truth andlosure (whatever that looks like).

Twenty Seven Minutes is the epitome of a slow burn, but what makes it even more interesting and compelling are its themes. I truly appreciated the complicated role that grief played in this one. There was a really interesting exploration of trauma and loss, and how it ripples throughout the community sometimes exposing the problems that lie beneath. Why do we focus and acknowledge one person’s tragedy and hurt over another’s? And how does this impact how they navigate grief and how they can move on from loss? No one person’s journey through grief is the same, and Tate does an excellent job of navigating these different experiences while still incorporating mystery and surprises.

Life in a small town is slow, and I appreciated the time this novel took to tell its story. 10 years can feel like a long time when you’re stuck in the same place and also navigating grief, and its pacing feels true and real. The characters are fascinating, complicated and multi-faceted. Sometimes they will disappoint you, sometimes they’ll shock you; in other words, they’re fully human. Excited for this promising new Canadian author!