Shattered Peace: A Century of Silence – Book Review
A mysterious inheritance. A buried secret. A town still haunted by its past.
In Julie McDonald Zander’s renowned historical fiction book Shattered Peace: A Century of Silence, the past physically emerges from the walls. Some stories simply cannot be buried. I received a review copy of this book from BookFunnel and I was so excited to read it because I loved the premise.
The book itself is divided into forty-six chapters, making it easier to follow and giving you good stopping points if you need to take a little break. The story is inspired by true events, but is a work of fiction. In the beginning after the dedication, the author includes a really helpful note to readers with some historical significance. And there is a Cast of Characters that helps you to understand the people you are about to read about, and the actual historical or contemporary characters who inspired them. I really enjoyed this little touch.
Let’s look at what it’s all about (spoiler-free).
Between 1919 and 2019, this dual-timeline story skillfully weaves together two lives torn apart by war and plagued by the lingering effects of a town’s terrible past. Colleen Holmes, a former Navy Seabee, hopes to flee her own demons when she inherits her grandmother’s old Centralia, Washington, home. An ancestor’s diary and a collection of vintage love letters she discovers concealed within the walls, however, draw her into a century-old mystery rife with violence, sorrow, and love.
I’m a big fan of stories where people find diaries or old letters, so that was one part that drew me to this book and made me excited to see where it goes.
Zander skillfully and stirringly blends the imaginary and the factual in this historically rich and emotionally poignant prose. She brings to life the terrible 1919 Armistice Day Riot, in which a fight between union workers and veterans of the war descended into catastrophe. The novel examines the lasting effects of war and the perilous legacies of silence and disinformation via Michael Dillon’s war-torn recollections and Colleen’s current disintegration.
The intensely personal sense of Shattered Peace is what makes it so compelling. It’s not so much about events that happen as it is how it effects the people who lived through it. It’s about the psychological effects of pain on generations, not just about a community split. Colleen’s internal conflicts reflect Michael’s experiences with what is now known as post-traumatic stress disorder. The author deftly demonstrates how war alters people and how, despite its challenges, recovery is always possible.
This is a message that rings true in today’s time as well, and something that I think many people can find inspirational to read. It’s also a heartbreaking story of how families get torn apart – one that a lot of people can relate to. It brings these experiences to life in such a vivid and beautiful way.
The novel’s main query, “What happens when truth is buried for too long?” has a timeless quality. We are reminded that history may fester if it is not investigated as Colleen reveals the secrets connected to her family and the town. But it can also be healing when exposed.
This is a very well written novel based on actual history, but it opens a sometimes forgotten chapter of history, and also gives us a different perspective. I love the dual timeline aspect of the story. The author does a great job of alternating between the contemporary timeline and the historical timeline. Everything feels historically accurate and the characters are relatable and full of depth. It’s a story you are sure to get lost in.
Shattered Peace is a reflection on justice, memory, sadness, and the silent optimism that arises when we confront what has been concealed.
Strongly recommended for readers who enjoy novels that pay tribute to the lost voices of the past, historical understanding, and emotional depth.