The Ferryman

This book didn’t just fascinate me; it shattered my understanding of utopia. Cronin’s Prospera seemed idyllic, but as I read, a gnawing unease grew. Like the protagonist, Proctor, I found myself grappling with the realization that perfection might come at a devastating cost.

The unraveling of Prospera’s facade forced me to reflect on the illusions we cling to in our own society. Cronin’s exploration of memory, loss, and the price of paradise stuck with me, making me ponder the lies we tell ourselves.

A wonderful, surprising plot — the book starts off as one thing and becomes quite another by the end — married to memorable characters, honest emotions, and harnessed to compelling prose that rocketed along like a bullet train.

When I finished it, I was tempted to go back to page one and start all over again. It was a deeply satisfying reading experience and a book that’s lingered in my mind and imagination.  

Justin Cronin’s silky prose, captivating characters, and eye for detail elevates this post-apocalyptic literary thriller, making it a thoroughly engrossing read. 

The novel opens with the shocking suicide of a woman who lives in Prospera, a paradise island. But all is not as it seems in this lack-for-nothing dream world, and soon we learn that a rebellion of the underclass is brewing. When the protagonist discovers that all is not as it seems, he quickly finds himself a hunted man. 

I’m new to Cronin, but this book made me a fan.