Hummingbird

By Tristan Hughes

A very descriptive, evocative and haunting novel. 

The story centres around the isolated, lonely life, of Zachary Taylor. He and his father live on the shores of a lake in the Canadian wilderness, with only a few diverse characters as neighbours. An elderly woman’s daughter comes to stay, to sort out her life after divorce. She and Zak’s dad tentatively make friends. Then comes Eva, a young niece of an eccentric resident. Eva begins a voyage of discovery as she becomes friends with Zak. He agrees to help her find the remains of her parents, whose sea plane crashed in the area when she was a child.

This is a departure from my usual obsession with psychological thrillers but a very rich, absorbing and satisfying read.

Narrated by the teenage Zachary you can feel the stream of loss and love meandering slowly throughout the tale.