Raise your hand if you’ve had the boss from hell. Or if you’ve struggled through a bad break-up. Or if you’ve found a meaningful friendship through unlikely avenues. If you can relate to one or more of these, you’ll enjoy Sheryn MacMunn’s debut novel, Finding Out (CreateSpace, 2012) just as much as I did.
MacMunn is an excellent storyteller and combines the contemporary story of sales executive Sheila Davenport with the harrowing WWII tale of her neighbor, Ruth Grey.
The novel opens as Sheila’s longterm boyfriend, Joe, breaks up with her outside of their Manhattan co-op. As if that’s not daunting enough, Sheila is put in charge of a new hire at work, the entitled Crystal Warren. She is not only told to train Crystal, but is also responsible for the outcomes of Crystal’s work. If Crystal fails, so does Sheila. You see, Crystal’s father and the big boss go way back.
After Sheila’s ex moves out, the apartment is bare and lonely. While her friends have good intentions, Sheila just doesn’t care for the nightclub scene anymore. Her 86 year-old neighbor, Ruth Grey, invites her over one day and the two go on to regularly meet in Ruth’s apartment.
MacMunn keeps the story moving as Sheila finds herself in dire financial straits and learns just who her ex has left her for. I also enjoyed the supporting cast of characters at Sheila’s workplace, all of whom are life-like and unique.
Finding Out is available as a paperback or e-book. And for more about Sheryn MacMunn, check out her website at www.sherynmacmunn.com.
Sounds interesting… might have to try and track a copy down.
Thanks for telling us about this!