ATHENA STUMBLES

A former felon experiences a crisis of conscience as her new life flourishes in Scott’s debut novel.

It’s 2006 in central Massachusetts, where Annie Pulkowski lives amid the “domestic bliss” of her loving family. She works at a food bank, tolerates her manipulative addict daughter Darlene, dotes on Darlene’s daughter, Amber, and loves her health-conscious husband, Charlie. However, she hides a dark past as an impressionable young woman who took part in a crime that resulted in the death of a security guard. Though satisfied with her present life, Annie is lonely and longs to reunite with her mother, Catherine, who knew her when she was named Lucinda—before she became involved with the radical Soldiers of Democracy movement. Annie regularly stakes out Catherine’s house, stealing glimpses of her childhood home and the extended family she abandoned 37 years prior. The death of one of Annie’s former partners in crime prompts her to reexamine her past misdeeds and work toward coming clean to everyone in her life. Scott maps out her memorable characters and their circumstances with impressive dexterity, and she’s careful not to overembellish themes or scenes; instead, she allows Annie’s journey of contrition to play out in a realistic, believable way. Past and present collide in dramatic fashion as figures from the past reemerge, and Annie must face her secrets before she can truly embrace the serenity of her current life. Scott’s novel was inspired by the true story of Katherine Ann Power, who went into hiding for 23 years after participating in two robberies, and explores the destructive effects of guilt and how a double life can cause psychological and emotional damage. It ably exposes the dangers of self-deception and explores how making amends can often pave the way for personal peace and happiness.  

A resonant, multifaceted story of wrongdoing and atonement.