An emotionally charged drama about the aftermath of a mother’s suicide
Death and All That Follows thoroughly conveys the full spectrum of feelings experienced by twin siblings Sara and Nico as they travel home to gather with family to mourn. Here, the author weaves a fascinating tale about love, loss, acceptance, and forgiveness that doesn’t pull punches.
The year is 1997 and Nico and Sara are bound for Santa Magdalena to say goodbye to their mother Raquel. Raquel was only 55 years old, yet her struggles with depression were no secret to her husband and children.
However inevitable it may have seemed, the loss of Raquel to her family still stings. Sara and Nico were raised in Santa Magdalena but couldn’t wait to escape once they were old enough as pretension seemed to dominate the landscape. At 29 years old, Sara is a lawyer in New York and Nico is unemployed and aimless; the siblings want to put this behind them as soon as possible.
Sara and Nico are both worried about their father Mateo and if he will be able to overcome the grief from this gut-wrenching loss. Mateo and Raquel had known each other since they were kids, so Mateo’s loss hits much deeper. There is a palpable feeling of apprehension when Sara sees her maternal grandmother as she believes that Raquel’s depression directly resulted from her treatment of her. Sara and Nico are forced to endure the formalities of the funeral as people come to offer condolences. However, Sara’s interest is piqued upon meeting Clara and Zoe, a mother and daughter who befriended Raquel in her final months.
While Sara discovers a few interesting tidbits about her mother from Clara and Zoe, a friendship is struck between Sara and Zoe. Zoe is a photographer who sees something in Sara, a beauty that should be exhibited. Meanwhile, Nico is befriended by a local journalist named Christian who is interested in learning Nico’s takes on Santa Magdalena. Both Christian and Zoe provide opportunities for Nico and Sara to express themselves. As much as their mother’s death has affected the twins, there is pain from both of their pasts that has cast a long shadow over their lives.
They believed they knew the reason for Raquel’s death, but events would show that things were not that simple. Their trip home would prove illuminating and change their lives forever.
Death and All That Follows is a compelling story dealing with death and revival. The author deftly conveys a somber mood in the initial pages as Sara and Nico arrive home to say goodbye to their mother. There is an air of sadness that permeates the flashbacks in the book. Ancient family history and withheld secrets lie at the center of their family’s dysfunction, and the tormented mindset of Sara and Nico becomes understandable.
Through their friendships with Zoe and Christian, Sara and Nico confront their past and begin to reclaim agency over their lives. The return home by Sara and Nico is viewed as a necessary evil, yet the author transmogrifies their familial duty into a transformative experience for both siblings. The death of a parent is a heartrending rite of passage, yet in author Javier Pinol Serra’s capable hands, there are ample amounts of catharsis, love, and understanding. Serra captures the emotional and psychological elements of loss with precision—a winning and thoughtful book overall. The characters are relatable, the plot’s pacing is spot-on, and the conclusion is just what we hoped for. Just know this going in: there will be tears shed by the time you’ve finished this story.
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