This was a well written book. I had no idea where it was leading me. It takes you back to Toronto around the time when Hurricane Hazel hit in 1954 and to the present. A young couple's lives changed from the events of that time. The marriage lasts for 50 years. Most of these years are years filled with "what if's". If the events in 1954 didn't happen the way they did would they have had a happy marriage. No one will know.

It wasn't a happy book. I felt that this couple wasted their lives staying in a marriage that would never get over the past. ( )

Mark Sinnett has written an amazingly good book in "The Carnivore". Set in 1954 Toronto, Hurricane Hazel is wreaking havoc, Ray Townes, a policeman, is having an affair. Mary, his long suffering wife is doing her best to hold things together.

When Ray is proclaimed a hero and is featured in the newspapers, but Mary has her doubts. Yes, Ray did warn people and possibly even saved a few, but he also committed a terrible act against another human being.

50 years later, when a reporter comes to their home to write another story about the hurricane, and its heroes, everything is churned up once more. Ray is ill, Mary is tired, and as the stories unfold to the reporter, memories are brought to the forefront, and feelings and actions of that awful night are nearly too much to bear.

Will they be able to get through this terrible time? Will the dredged up memories end a marriage, hanging on by a thread? Will Rays evil deed become known? Will the truth set them free or will it ruin them?

So many questions, but all is answered in the end. The exploration of a disaster and a marriage, is so well written, I felt like a fly on their wall, eavesdropping. This book was wonderful!

I received this book from Shelf Monkey for review. Thanks so much! ( )