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Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
A murder charge forces two childhood friends to confront a past neither has completely left behind. In The Sorrows of Gathering by D. A. Dorwart, successful San Francisco attorney Rebecca Martin receives an unexpected call from Nolan Gathering, the boy who was once her closest friend. More than twenty years have passed since they were inseparable growing up in Marshford, Massachusetts, but he’s now in serious trouble. He has been arrested for the murder of Matthew McKinnon, a young man who worked for him and disappeared months earlier. Rebecca immediately returns home to help with his defense, bringing her associate Mei-Lin with her. The case is complicated by the fact that the body hasn’t been found, and Nolan insists he had nothing to do with the disappearance. As she prepares to defend him, questions arise about his connection with Matthew and what really happened before he vanished. At the same time, returning to Marshford brings back memories Rebecca has spent decades avoiding. The story moves between different periods in the characters’ lives, gradually revealing the experiences, relationships, and secrets that led them to the present. Can she uncover the truth in time to save her oldest friend?
The Sorrows of Gathering by D. A. Dorwart was interesting, and I definitely didn’t see everything that was coming. Just when I thought I understood where the story was headed, something would make me question it. The history between Rebecca and Nolan was one of my favorite parts. Their feelings for each other aren’t simple, especially after so many years apart. No one is perfect either. Mistakes have been made, regrets linger, and that made them feel more believable to me. Dorwart also touches on prejudice, acceptance, friendship, love, and justice without losing sight of the characters at the center of it all. I could easily picture the scenes because of the way he writes, especially once the trial started. This is a longer book, but moving between different timelines helped break it up, while the questions surrounding Matthew kept me curious. The ending felt fitting after spending so much time with Rebecca and Nolan. Readers who enjoy courtroom drama mixed with mystery and complicated personal relationships will find a few surprises waiting for them.
