Brent van Staalduinen Livres

Fiction. When fifteen-year-old Mutton is robbed at gunpoint while working in her mother's Hamilton thrift store, the thief makes off with an item that she knows isn't meant for him, hurling Mutton and her family into a summer of remarkable and heartbreaking events. From fighting unscrupulous developers to first loves to the anguish that comes from never knowing what your final words to a loved one might be, SAINTS, UNEXPECTED reminds us of the magic that comes with each opportunity to begin again. "This small gem of a novel will stay with you long after you finish reading. It's a mystery, a love story, a family drama, and it has just enough magic to keep you hooked to the last page."--Annabel Lyon

Boy's final year of high school is unraveling. Fast. He had it all worked out, from crushing his final exams to military school to a career in the air force. But his family's tragic past and its complicated present have caught up to him, and his marks are slipping, jeopardizing all of his plans.

Set against the backdrop of a sweltering summer, the story explores Dills' emotional turmoil as he grapples with the reality of a horrific crime committed by a parent he deeply loves. This journey of understanding and acceptance delves into complex themes of loyalty, morality, and the struggle to reconcile familial bonds with the truth.

In a post-apocalyptic world, Lorry Martens, a troubled army veteran, navigates life in the isolated barge community of Barren Arm. After the murder of her best friend Neil, she discovers he was the guardian of a hidden relic, and his death initiates a dangerous succession ritual. Tasked with guiding Neil's successor to the relic's mountain hiding place, Lorry must confront her dark past and face those who seek the relic for themselves, leading her into a treacherous landscape filled with betrayal and peril.