Lily and the Mockingbird by John Ellington is part allegory and part realistic romance about thirtyish veterinarian Brenner Miles, who, after an idealistic marriage with Lily, his dream girl, sees their relationship on the way to losing its perfection. He is working late to avoid confrontation, and the upcoming weekend will see the couple go their separate ways for their activities. During the weekend, Lily dies in a drowning accident. Brenner is devastated, unable to function, and given time off for his recovery. He takes off with his and Lily’s coon hound Samantha to lose himself in the southern Appalachian wilderness. An expert hiker, camper, and fly fisherman, he gathers his supplies, during which he makes brief acquaintances with several residents near the southern entrance of the Appalachian Trail. What follows, led onward by a mysterious mockingbird, is a series of surreal incidents which bring Brenner face to face with the great issues of life and death, good and evil, and love and loss.

I was immediately locked in by John Ellington’s skillful and artful storytelling. First, he establishes Brenner’s worth as a character by showing his concern for animals as a veterinarian, and then as the husband of his soulmate Lily. He sees his marriage coming apart and mourns the possibility of its disintegration. Then, over a weekend apart, Lily loses her life. To cope, he heads for the woods. And if any better writer of the wilderness exists than Ellington, I have yet to come across him or her. He makes the Carolina Appalachians come alive with descriptions in living color. But what I found more compelling than the hiking, camping, supplying, fishing, and hanging out with Samantha is Brenner’s dogged struggle with the loss of the love of his life. Ultimately, this is a story of surviving the death of one’s dearest, of moving on in the face of tragedy, and more, of the war we all face with the reality of death. Lily and the Mockingbird is a masterfully written endorsement not only of the natural world but of the struggle and victory of love and survival.

Lily and the Mockingbird by John Ellington explores love, loss, and the specter of grief. The narrative follows Brenner Miles, a veterinarian haunted by the untimely death of his wife, Lily, who drowned during a drunken night out. As Brenner embarks on a journey along the Appalachian Trail, he struggles with nightmares, guilt, and a desire to reconnect with the memory of his beloved wife. However, the journey becomes a metaphorical exploration of memory and healing, leading to moments where Brenner believes he can see and hear Lily, urging him to confront his deepest fears and regrets. The novel explores the themes of mortality and the difficulties of moving forward after a significant loss. Can Brenner find healing in nature, or will the loss of his wife continue to haunt him?

John Ellington's engaging tale will appeal to those who have experienced loss and struggle with grief. Brenner is a well-developed character whose sense of grief ignites the pathos in the narrative. He is portrayed as overworked, but his love for his wife and the hound, Sam, is beautifully captured. The Appalachian setting reflects the wilderness of Brenner's mind—untamed, beautiful, and fraught with danger. The dense forests and hidden trails symbolize Brenner's turbulent emotions, while natural elements reflect his internal struggles. The author offers a vivid portrait of Brenner’s psyche, and the use of journal entries and streams of consciousness allows readers to connect with this character. Lily and the Mockingbird explores themes of solitude and connection, contrasting Brenner’s connection with his dog and Rami, the acquaintance he makes on the trail, and the devastating sense of loss accompanying him. From the flawed yet unforgettable characters to the crisp writing and the well-drawn setting, this novel offers much that will delight readers.