So I just finished reading a new book called The Ringer. It's the first novel by author Jenny Shank. I received this book as part of the Early Reviewers program on LibraryThing.com. LTER is a program where you put your name in a hat for several books not yet released, and if you are selected, you receive an early edition of the book (either E-Book or printed format). The only caveat is that you must review received books. Personally, I think this is a terrific opportunity, especially for someone like me who will read anything!
In any case, this book was wonderful! The story goes back and forth between two families, seemingly only connected by a terrible tragedy. Ed O'Fallon, a Denver cop, shot and killed Patricia Maestas' husband during a drug-raid gone wrong. Both families have boys who play baseball, but in different leagues. When Patricia moves her son to the more competitive league that Ed's boys play in, rumors start to fly from all over. It takes some time for Ed and Patricia to realize who each other are, and even longer to acknowledge that they know.
The novel is full of rich detailing about the main characters' lives, showing many unexpected connections between the two families. This is a story that will cause you to rethink your first impressions about the characters throughout the entire book, and leave you with a difficult choice to decide who is "right" and who is "wrong" at the end.
Shank, Jenny. The Ringer: A Novel. Sag Harbor, NY: Permanent, 2011. Print.
