A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson

Hello everyone.

Ever see the movie Young Frankenstein, by Mel Brooks? If you say no, I'll gasp loudly. What is wrong with you? In the movie, Gene Wilder playing Dr. Frankenstein, sends his assistant Igor (played by Marty Feldman) to get a brain. After the brain is "installed," and the monster starts behaving oddly, Dr. Frankenstein asks Igor what brain he brought him. Igor responds, "Abby somebody....Abby normal."  So the abnormal brain has just been put into the body of a huge and sometimes aggravated monster. Honestly, if you haven't seen it, you are missing out.

That brings up the term normal. What is normal? I would say it is average. Not too far off from center.  Do you want to be normal if normal is average?

I recently read A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson. This story is about a mother who is an attorney, a father who is a pastor and their daughter. They appear to be a normal family, until the daughter is accused of murder. The novel is divided into three sections, each told from one of the main character's perspectives, giving the reader more insight as the story progresses. Things you think you know in the beginning, and how things outwardly appear, turn out to not necessarily be true. On your way to discovering if the daughter is guilty or innocent  you realize how dysfunctional this normal family really is. The other major issue explored is what would a parent do for their child? What did these parents do, and the morality given one is a lawyer and the other a pastor.

This book is well written and nicely paced, but is definitely a slow burn. If you want an interesting mystery you'll like this, however, if you are after a heart pounding thriller this may not be for you.  A Nearly Normal Family will especially appeal to those that like a little legal procedure in their story.

If you decide to give this book a go, on the way to your reading chair remember to "walk this way." (From the movie, go watch it!)