ROXY REID

In Burgess’ novel, a woman’s checkered past clashes with the relatively quiet, white-collar life she’s currently living.

London-born Roxy Reid is a successful investment banker in the U.S. Her 12-year-old daughter, Taylor, believes Roxy’s conservative ways make her a rather “boring” mother. Roxy’s past life, however, catches up to her just in time for the holiday season. She first runs into Nathan Hancock, whose late father is also Taylor’s father. But Roxy has kept this tidbit from Taylor, along with most specifics about her troubled youth in London. Another recent familiar face is Nicholas Drednaught, a real estate businessman. Back when Roxy knew him, he was a drug dealer who went by Nick Dredd. Her involvement with drugs and violence is certainly something she also wants to shield from Taylor. But that’s not so easy when Dolores DuCharme realizes who Roxy is. Dolores is a department head and the guidance counselor at Dunmore Academy, Taylor’s private school. She’s also Nathan’s mother and the widow of the same man Roxy was sleeping with all those years ago in London. Dolores is all too willing to talk about Roxy’s scandalous history, although there’s much more to the harsh world Roxy once endured. Roxy wants to keep Dolores away from Taylor, but as her friend puts it, Roxy can’t kill Dolores. She does nevertheless have street smarts, physical prowess, and, perhaps, a switchblade at the ready, so she can undoubtedly find some sort of solution.

Though this is a follow-up to Burgess’ earlier book Flawed Perfection (2020), reading both novels is not a requirement. As this story relies heavily on its predecessor, it regularly cites Roxy’s previous life in the U.K. more than a decade ago. Still, none of the backstory slows down the steadily paced narrative, making this short novel a quick read. Roxy is a sublimely complex protagonist who deserves sympathy. Her childhood entailed an abusive mother, and she herself is a loving mother to Taylor, though their relationship is sometimes fractious. At the same time, she tends to push others away, and her actions can be distinctly unsettling. Several supporting characters are equally worrisome, largely due to their unpredictability. While Dolores hardly veils her animosity for Roxy, Nathan and Nick are more ambiguous since their intentions aren’t immediately clear. All three characters, too, represent the bad old days that Roxy has been trying to escape. Throughout, Burgess creates an involving ambiance, frequently detailing the cold weather outside as well as the forthcoming winter holidays. Snow, in particular, is a recurring image. For example, one morning a contemplative Roxy “seated herself on a sofa that faced the tall windows that looked out onto the snow-covered grounds. The fireplace was behind her and warmed her back.” The ending, quite fittingly, leaves a few issues unresolved.

A single mother’s complicated history begets a somber, searing melodrama.