Book Review: The Coach House
The Coach House. Florence Osmund. Published by CreateSpace, N. Charleston, S.C., 2012, Trade Paperback, 354 pages.
Review by Ray Paul.
The Coach House is a tense story with two plots set in post World War II America. Marie Costa, a young college graduate, is quickly moving up the management ladder at Marshall Fields in Chicago when she meets and falls in love with Richard Marchetti, a handsome, beguiling medical supply salesman with a secret business life involving the underworld. Of course, at the time they are married, Marie is clueless. All she knows is Richard is devoted to her and continually professes his love for her. However, after they marry, a variety of incidents and chance encounters with some dangerous gangsters eventually drive her into hiding.
From that point forward, Marie attempts to escape from her husband and build a new life. Her odyssey starts by breaking into what she assumed was a vacant home. From there she travels to a number of distant cities to find safety beyond Richard’s reach. After eventually settling in a coach house on an estate in a suburb of Kansas City, she reestablishes her life, finds a sidekick, Karen, and hopes to be free of Richard and his threats. But this was not to be, because she is never beyond his reach, and she experiences a number of terrifying incidents when Richard tracks her down. This is plot number one.
Plot number two involves Marie’s search for the father she has never known. While her deceased mother had always told Marie her lover was a “good man,” she left very few clues as to who he was. Sure, someone set up a bank account to fund Marie’s college education, and there was a group picture with her mother and several men. Other than that, his identity was kept from her. By the end of the book Marie solves the puzzle. She not only learns her mother was truthful in calling him a “good man,” but she finds out all the reasons her mother kept his identity a secret.
Personally, I found much to like in The Coach House. The third-person narrative was gripping and believable. All the characters were unique, rich and well-rounded. The dialog itself was crisp and telling, and did a wonderful job of building suspense and moving the story along. Furthermore, the author’s rich descriptions of Chicago’s sights, and all of the other places in which Florence Osmund places her characters, added depth to the intense story line. While the point of view was decidedly female, I wouldn’t describe this story as a chick book. The characters, both male and female, were utterly believable and the story line so unique. I really enjoyed the time I spent reading it, particularly the satisfying ending regarding the search for her father. That being said, the only aspect of the book that didn’t wholly satisfy me was the resolution to plot number one. But the ending made sense, and that will probably be enough for most readers.
The Coach House is an enjoyable read, and I recommend it to anyone who reads to be entertained.