Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers

When the local paper receives a letter from a woman claiming her daughter is the result of a virgin birth, Jean Swinney, a feature writer, navigates both the mystery and the threat of getting too close to the family involved.

Set in 1957, Chambers pulls from some real-life events — a railway accident that opens the novel and a newspaper article concerning a recent study into parthenogenesis, speculating whether this could be possible in humans.

Chambers draws on neo-noir themes, structure, and feel to unfurl the mystery as Jean works to uncover the truth. In the midst of this is the inadvisable idea of becoming too close to the family. Jean, nearly 40 years old (gasp!), has been wronged in love before and has resigned herself to a life of caring for her ailing and reclusive mother. When Jean meets with the letter-writing mother, Gretchen, and her daughter, she finds herself quite taken with the young girl. Soon, a friendship develops between the two women, the daughter, and Gretchen's husband, Howard.

For the majority of this book, I was sure we were moving steadily towards a four-star tale, maybe even higher. But as we neared the end and the pieces began slotting into place, one specific element unfolded, and I found it hugely disappointing. The kind that makes you say: Really?! In 2021?! K.

Otherwise, Chambers really had me hooked — the characters were really good and the way she developed the mystery and Jean's hunt for truth were both fairly riveting. I'll see what there is to see about possibly reading more from her. Open to recommendations.