Lightning on a Quiet Night: In the years following World War II, a town too proud of its own virtues deals with its first murder
Despite the implications of this crime, the town of Beneficent, Mississippi, population 479, tries desperately to hold onto its vain self-image. The young veteran Jack Davis holds that idyllic vision of the town and tries to share it with Lisa Kemper, newly arrived from Indiana. But she is repelled by everything in it. While the sheriff tries to find the murderer, Jack and Lisa’s contentious courtship reveals the town’s strange combination of astute perceptions and surprising blind spots. Then they stumble onto shocking discoveries about the true nature of the town. But where will those discoveries lead? To repentance or to denial and continuation in vanity?
I have read Donn Taylor’s books for years and let me just say right up front, he is a wonderful, talented author, but with his release of Lightning on a Quiet Night, he proves he has the chops to write in a multitude of genres. He writes vivid, interesting descriptions and the opening of the book is so well written that it pulls the reader right in and the remainder of the book holds you there until the satisfying conclusion.
I’ m not sure in what genre I’d place Lightning on a Quiet Night, as it holds enough mystery, history, and romance to satisfy readers who follow any of these genres. It spans genres and is able to capture the heart of all readers, something that is not true of many novels.
In addition, to admiring Donn’s writing skills, I was enthralled with the town of Beneficent from the very beginning. I grew up in a small town and reading about Beneficent was like going home for a visit. I have to admit, I had a lot in common with Lisa. I wasn’t an outsider as she was, but I was eager to get out of my sleepy little town and experience life so I connected quite easily with her. And then, this book is set in the era that my parents often talked about. Especially when it came to basketball, as my father was a local basketball star. Also, they owned the only grocery store in town, and I remember the aprons they wore as noted in the book. Remembered how people said one thing but really meant another and were often quick to gossip. And I also remembered how they could and did rally around each other in time of need.
Then I could also readily identify with Lisa’s quest for acceptance in the small community. Growing up as a child of business owners, it was always about behaving so that people would accept my family and shop at our store. So I could feel the judgment Lisa was subjected to and appreciate that Donn wrote this book with such realism.
BUT…what my little town didn’t have in common with Beneficent was a murder. Still, I could understand the characters’ fascination with the crime and their fear as they talked about it in a time when the news was carried from person to person instead of on the television or Internet.
Lastly, the suspense/mystery lover in me enjoyed the pacing of the mystery, and I read eagerly to find out who committed the murder and threatened Lisa and Jack. I was pleasantly surprised to find other treacherous acts and shocking discoveries along the way. The conclusion was emotional and satisfying, and I hope Donn is busy writing another wonderful book.
