The Echoes of a Small Town’s Tragedy
In the quiet corners of small Southern towns, secrets have a way of lingering like morning mist over dewy fields. They cling to the eaves of old houses, whisper through the leaves of ancient oaks, and nestle in the hearts of those who’ve lived with them for far too long. Marybeth Mayhew Whalen’s “Every Moment Since” is a haunting exploration of one such secret, a mystery that has shaped and scarred the lives of an entire community for over two decades.
A Jacket Found, A Wound Reopened
The discovery of Davy Malcor’s jacket—that iconic Back to the Future-inspired piece his mother lovingly crafted—serves as the match that reignites a long-smoldering case. Whalen’s prose crackles with tension from the very first pages, drawing readers into the web of emotions and memories that have ensnared the residents of Wynotte, North Carolina, since that fateful October night in 1985.
The Cast of the Haunted
At the heart of this tale are four individuals whose lives have been irrevocably altered by Davy’s disappearance:
- Thaddeus Malcor: Davy’s older brother, now a bestselling author riding the wave of success from his memoir about the family’s ordeal.
- Tabitha Malcor: The mother who’s never stopped searching, cataloging her regrets with religious fervor.
- Anissa Weaver: A woman whose childhood brush with Davy has led her to a career in law enforcement and a secret she can’t reveal.
- Gordon Swift: The man long suspected of involvement in Davy’s disappearance, living a life on the fringes of suspicion.
Whalen weaves their narratives together with the skill of a master storyteller, each chapter peeling back another layer of the mystery and the complex emotions that have festered in its wake.
A Symphony of Voices
One of the most striking aspects of “Every Moment Since” is Whalen’s ability to craft distinct and authentic voices for each of her characters. Thaddeus’s sections crackle with a mix of guilt and ambition, his carefully constructed facade threatening to crumble at any moment. Tabitha’s chapters are infused with a mother’s relentless love and the weight of countless “what-ifs.” Anissa’s narrative pulses with the tension of a woman torn between duty and a long-held secret, while Gordon’s segments are tinged with the weariness of a man who’s lived too long under the shadow of suspicion.
The Past is Never Past
Whalen’s use of flashbacks to the night of Davy’s disappearance is masterful. These glimpses into the past are like shards of a broken mirror, each reflecting a different facet of the tragedy. The author’s attention to period detail—from the mullets and Wayfarer sunglasses to the ubiquitous presence of Back to the Future—transports readers to the mid-80s with vivid clarity.
A Town Held Hostage by Memory
Wynotte itself emerges as a character in its own right, a place where time seems to have stood still in many ways. Whalen captures the claustrophobic nature of small-town life with precision, showing how a single event can ripple through generations, shaping relationships and futures in ways both subtle and profound.
The Weight of Secrets
At its core, “Every Moment Since” is an exploration of the corrosive power of secrets. Each character carries their own burden of knowledge, their own version of events that they’ve kept hidden for years. As the investigation into Davy’s disappearance reignites, these long-held secrets begin to surface, threatening to upend lives and challenge everything the town thought it knew about that night.
The Complexities of Truth and Memory
Whalen doesn’t shy away from the difficult questions her narrative raises. How reliable are our memories, especially those formed in moments of trauma? Can we ever truly know the full story of any event, or are we all limited by our own perspectives? The author deftly explores these themes, showing how the stories we tell ourselves can become a kind of prison.
The Ripple Effect of Tragedy
One of the most poignant aspects of the novel is its examination of how a single tragedy can affect so many lives:
- Families torn apart
- Careers derailed
- Innocence lost
- Trust shattered
Whalen shows us the far-reaching consequences of Davy’s disappearance with unflinching honesty, reminding us that in cases like these, there are no true winners—only survivors.
A Mystery That Transcends Genre
While “Every Moment Since” certainly has elements of a traditional mystery thriller, it would be a disservice to categorize it solely as such. Whalen’s novel is a deeply human story, one that uses the framework of a cold case to explore themes of guilt, redemption, and the possibility of healing even in the face of unimaginable loss.
The Delicate Dance of Revelation
The pacing of the novel is expertly handled, with Whalen doling out revelations and twists at just the right moments to keep readers engaged without ever feeling manipulative. The truth, when it finally comes, is both shocking and somehow inevitable—a testament to the author’s skill in laying the groundwork throughout the narrative.
A Chorus of Perspectives
The use of multiple viewpoints allows Whalen to approach the central mystery from various angles, each character offering a piece of the puzzle. This structure also serves to heighten the tension, as readers are privy to information that the characters themselves don’t have, creating a sense of dramatic irony that propels the story forward.
The Power of Empathy
Perhaps the most remarkable achievement of “Every Moment Since” is Whalen’s ability to evoke empathy for all of her characters, even those who’ve made terrible mistakes. By showing us the humanity in each person, the author challenges us to consider the complexities of morality and the possibility of redemption.
A Reflection on Grief and Healing
Whalen’s exploration of grief is nuanced and deeply affecting. She shows us how loss can become a defining characteristic, shaping every aspect of a person’s life. But she also offers glimpses of hope, suggesting that while we may never fully “move on” from tragedy, we can find ways to carry it with us as we continue to live and grow.
The Role of Community in Healing
The novel also highlights the importance of community in the face of tragedy. While the town of Wynotte has been deeply scarred by Davy’s disappearance, it’s also shown moments of coming together, of supporting one another through the darkest times. This aspect of the story feels particularly relevant in our current era of division and isolation.
A Worthy Addition to the Southern Gothic Tradition
“Every Moment Since” fits comfortably alongside works by authors like Wiley Cash and Jesmyn Ward, novels that use the rich tapestry of Southern life to explore universal themes. Whalen’s vivid descriptions of the North Carolina setting add depth and texture to the narrative, grounding the story in a very specific time and place while still speaking to universal experiences of loss and longing.
A Voice to Watch
While Whalen has published several novels previously, “Every Moment Since” feels like a significant leap forward in terms of ambition and execution. Her confident prose and deft handling of complex emotions mark her as an author to watch in the realm of literary suspense.
Comparisons and Contemporaries
Fans of Liane Moriarty’s “Big Little Lies” or Celeste Ng’s “Little Fires Everywhere” will find much to appreciate in Whalen’s exploration of small-town secrets and the weight of the past. The novel also brings to mind Delia Owens’ “Where the Crawdads Sing” in its evocative Southern setting and examination of how isolation can shape a life.
Final Thoughts: A Haunting and Hopeful Tale
“Every Moment Since” is a novel that lingers long after the final page is turned. Marybeth Mayhew Whalen has crafted a story that is at once a gripping mystery and a profound meditation on the nature of grief, guilt, and the possibility of redemption. It’s a book that asks difficult questions and doesn’t shy away from the complexities of human nature.
While the resolution of the central mystery is satisfying, it’s the journey of the characters—their growth, their struggles, and their tentative steps towards healing—that makes this novel truly memorable. Whalen reminds us that even in the face of unimaginable loss, there is the possibility of connection, of understanding, and of finding a way forward.
For readers who appreciate novels that blend suspense with deep emotional resonance, “Every Moment Since” is an absolute must-read. It’s a book that will make you think, feel, and perhaps look at your own community with new eyes, wondering about the secrets that might be hiding behind closed doors and the stories yet to be told.
