God in Concord

by Jane Langton

Book Overview

Homer Kelly is trying to cope with the changes to his beloved Concord: an influx of tourists and boutiques, a convergence of homeless, even a proposed mall on the banks of Walden Pond. But when some retirees begins to meet untimely deaths, he draws the line. Illustrated.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140165940
• ISBN13: 9780140165944
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.2" x 6.9"

Customer Reviews

Mystery and New England Nostalgia

Jane Langton's Homer Kelly is one part absent-minded professor, one part Doctor Who (sans time travel) and one part...well, Homer Kelly. Suffering from JFS (Jessica Fletcher Syndrome), mystery and death seem to "sniff out" Homer, rather than the other way around. The story is not just merely about scenic suburban life and the petty trifles of its inhabitants. That provides the narrative façade for an astute commentary regarding the politics of development/city planning, environmentalism and the dangers/benefits of nostalgia. Langton's characters are vividly multi-dimensional, torn in their allegiances by both heart and mind. The author asks the reader not to pass immediate judgment, suggesting that the potential for villainy resides within us as well, under the right set of circumstances. I think this is one of Langton's better books in the series. Highly recommended for Thoreau buffs and those readers familiar with Boston/Concord, Massachusetts.

I liked this mystery!

I loved Thoreau's Walden -- and therefore loved the backdrop of this mystery -- and I love mysteries, though I read only about 1/3 of the mysteries I pick up and this one was fun and one you can put down, as each chapter was rather a chocolate; the characters were foibled, the conversations spirited and it was engagingly plotted.