A Light in the Forest by Melissa Payne
Vega is on the run, with nothing but her infant son in her arms, the beat-up old van she grew up in, and a postcard from her late mother, pointing her in the direction of the picturesque town of Crystal, Ohio. Described as a “nothing town full of nobodies”, Vega hopes it will be the last place Zach, her abusive boyfriend, thinks to look for her.
What begins as a domestic suspense novel quickly becomes something much bigger. A Light in the Forest (Lake Union Publishing) by Melissa Payne is a thrilling portrait of women finding their footing when all odds seem stacked against them. Vega wants to disappear into a small town, but instead, she finds herself — her history, the truth about her late mother, and a family to call her own.
Heartwarming Small-Town Characters
At its core, this novel is about its characters. Vega and her son Riley lead the story, and we see the world through her hesitant, untrusting and headstrong stance on the world. From a young age, she was constantly on the move with her mother. Together, they helped women and children escape from dangerous, abusive situations — something Vega never thought she herself would experience. After all, her mother always warned her not to trust men.
When she runs from Zach, the only man she let into her life, we see her constant struggle with the fact of her situation, as the harsh reality sets in. She is alone, with nobody to trust except herself. But somehow, the small town she sought out has more in store for her, and the majority of its people are kind and willing to lend a hand.
One such character is Heff, the local deputy/artist, who might be the first man Vega ever considers trusting. There are Carl and Betty, who take in anyone who needs a hand. Then, there’s Eve, the confident and unbothered owner of the local antique store.
In chapters told from Eve’s point of view, we learn of her Near Death Experience and the special capabilities it left her with. Not only did the NDE give Eve the courage to live unashamedly as a trans woman in a town scattered with hateful people, but it also gave her psychic visions. Visions that let her know Vega was on her way to town; visions of the deaths of people near to her; visions she can’t explain or understand until they happen.
Captivating Suspense and Clever Plotting
Melissa Payne weaves multiple storylines throughout the novel, drawing readers closer and closer to the climax of the book. A plotline set in 1995 about two abused, runaway children, leaves readers with a creeping suspicion that there is something more to the story — and they’d be right. Who are these children? And what is their connection to Vega?
Through a combination of Eve’s psychic powers, an old photo of Vega’s mother, and some local bullies, the truth slowly dawns on both the reader and the characters that there is more to the story. Payne weaves several timelines with expertise and careful pacing, both disturbing and delighting readers with each new twist.
A Light in the Forest tackles the complicated themes of domestic abuse, sexual assault and transphobia with care and caution. Melissa Payne doesn’t shy away from depicting some of the harshest moments on the page, emphasizing that this novel is not for the faint of heart. But those who can bear the harsh moments will be left with a heart-wrenching story of love, healing and hope.
The novel takes characters in horrific domestic situations — who make the tough decision to leave everything behind — and shows that it is possible for them to find a place where they belong. Eve, one of the novel’s strongest supporters of choosing your own family, clarifies to Vega, “Home is a place we’re always trying to find.” And readers are reminded that no matter how dark things get, there is always a light in unexpected places.
About Melissa Payne:
Melissa Payne is the bestselling, award-winning author of The Secrets of Lost Stones and Memories in the Drift. For as long as she can remember, Melissa has been telling stories in one form or another—from high school newspaper articles to a graduate thesis to blogging about marriage and motherhood.
But she first learned the real importance of storytelling when she worked for a residential and day treatment center for abused and neglected children. There she wrote speeches and letters to raise funds for the children. The truth in those stories was piercing and painful and written to invoke a call to action in the reader: to give, to help, to make a difference. Melissa’s love of writing and sharing stories in all forms has endured. She lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with her husband and three children, a friendly mutt, a very loud cat, and the occasional bear.
(Photo Credit: Eric Weber)
