‘Amaryllis in Blueberry’ dark, haunting

Family relationships go awry in the historical fiction novel “Amaryllis in Blueberry” by Christina Meldrum.

Dick Slepy is obsessed with his wife, Seena, and his three eldest daughters, Mary Grace, Mary Catherine and Mary Tessa. But Dick suspects his wife of having an affair, especially after the birth of their fourth daughter, Amaryllis, a child born suddenly while her mother was picking blueberries (thus the title of the book) who bears no resemblance to anyone else in the family.

In an effort to prevent himself from murdering the man he suspects as being the father of Amaryllis, Dick packs up the family and heads off to become a medical missionary in West Africa, only to find that his past and present history has followed him into the wilderness where tragedy and heartache awaits the entire family.

Written in a series of flashbacks from the past to the present and in the voices of each of the members of the Slepy family, Meldrum intertwines past history with present in this story set in 1970s Michigan and West Africa.

“Amaryllis in Blueberry” is a complicated story of family intrigue. Meldrum spins a compelling story that has aspects of adultery, forgiveness, redemption, murder, faith, acceptance, sacrifice and love.

Incorporating the various voices of the daughters, the mother and the father, Meldrum gives each character a chance to share their point of view in regards to the difficult situations the family encounters as she guides the tale toward the surprising ending.

Although at times, I personally felt like I needed a scorecard to keep track of everyone, especially all the Marys, and the story is decidedly dark and rather haunting, it was an interesting look into the traditions and cultures of an unfamiliar society.