What We Found in Hallelujah

Two sisters reunite with their mother in Hallelujah, S.C., in the satisfying latest from Miller (Something Good). The death of family patriarch Henry Reynolds followed by the disappearance of his youngest daughter, 14-year-old Trinity, fractured the relationships among the remaining family members: Henry’s wife, Ruby, and daughters Faith and Hope. Eighteen years later, Hope lives in California and Faith lives in Atlanta, dealing with her strained marriage and obstinate teenage daughter, Crystal. Ruby convinces Hope and Faith to come home, citing an unwise business deal she’s made that’s put their beachfront home at risk of repossession, but their visit is tense and painful. As Hope confronts Ruby about a devastating family secret that’s kept them estranged, Faith starts to suspect that Crystal has been suffering from the same mental illness that ailed Trinity. With a hurricane approaching Hallelujah, Ruby must confront how her stubbornness and distance from God have kept her from having fulfilling relationships with her daughters. A dramatic plot and uplifting resolution make up for the occasionally stilted dialogue. The result is a potent testament to the power of faith and family in the face of tragedy. Natasha Kern, Natasha Kern Literary. (Nov.)