Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts

Reviewed by Vicki Carver
[e-book]

Billie Letts is an author with two previous works of fiction, Where the Heart Is and The Honk and Holler Opening Soon.  Her newest book is called Shoot the Moon and is another book set in Oklahoma with a quirky cast of dysfunctional characters.

Mark Albright has had a privileged life growing up in California and has become a successful veterinarian. However, he has recently found a letter concerning his adoption in 1972 implemented by a Californian attorney. Mark Albright’s birth name had been Nicky Jack Harjo until his previously unknown adoption.

Mark travels back to his birthplace in De Clare, Oklahoma, supposedly to find his parents. However he learns some startling news: his mother Gaylene Harjo was murdered in 1972, his father is unknown and no one has any idea what happened to Nicky Jack. The residents of De Clare are initially suspicious of Mark and question his true identity.

Teeve Harjo has been a long-time resident of De Clare and runs the local café/pool hall. Her pregnant daughter Ivy has been a drifter but has come home to Teeve to await her child’s birth. Teeve, Ivy and Mark begin a search to find out who murdered Gaylene Harjo. As they begin to find out what really happened to her, townspeople get nervous and threaten their safety.

As the story unfolds there are entries from Gaylene’s diary from her early teen years to her high school graduation. Gaylene had developed a strong interest in painting and had celebrated her Native American culture through her art. Mark learns to appreciate his late mother’s talent and her dreams which had never been fulfilled. When Mark finally uncovers the truth about his mother’s pregnancy and subsequent murder he  has learned much about the people of De Clare, Oklahoma and himself.

Shoot the Moon is more of a mystery than Billie Letts’ previous novels. However this newest novel has Letts’ interesting mix of characters and events which combine into a fast-paced reading experience. 

[e-book]