A Town Called Solace

Mary Lawson Press Reviews

Beautifully written and so finely crafted; told in the kind of prose I most admire because it takes what appears to be complicated and makes it clear . . . These interwoven stories of three people at different stages of life, and yet each struggling with their own form of loss and grief, will stay with me the way good friendships stay with you. It's already one of my favourite books of the year -- Rachel Joyce

Mary Lawson writes with a pure simplicity... she has the God-given ability to convey the complexities of human nature in everyday language... It was only on a second reading that I came to realise quite how intricately plotted A Town Called Solace is: like a magician, Lawson hides her technique, and makes it all seem as natural as breathing... she possesses an instinctive feel for when to withhold information, and when to release it -- Craig Brown - Mail on Sunday

Lawson's books are a pleasure to read - they conjure a space where quiet reflection and owning your past mistakes bring gentle rewards; they feel kind and wise and brimful of empathy -- Siobhan Murphy - The Times

This is Mary Lawson's fourth novel and I'd recommend a binge immersion... Lawson has carved out a world in Northern Ontario that's vividly, absorbingly real; she captures tones and voices with exactitude in writing that's idiomatic but never flashy and carries you along from midnight to dawn, oblivious of the time. -- Nooni Minogue - Literary Review

Poised, elegant prose, paired with quiet drama that will break your heart. The sort of book that seems as if it has always existed because of its timeless perfection -- Graham Norton Anne Tyler is a big fan of this Canadian author and so am I - Good Housekeeping

A lovely, gentle novel with edge, worthy of Anne Tyler - Saga

There's a beauty and simplicity in her [Lawson's] stories set in small-town Canada -- Nina Pottell - Prima

[An] absorbing novel -- Charlotte Heathcote - Sunday Express

Completely absorbing... A Town Called Solace pleases at every level. It's a captivating tale suffused with wisdom and compassion -- Brett Josef Grubisic - Toronto Star

[In A Town Called Solace] doubts, difficulties and uncertainties of the human condition are examined carefully in a way that is both heartbreaking and joyful -- Bridie Pritchard - UK Press Syndication

Subtle and darkly funny, this tender novel unspools the interconnected lives of her beautifully drawn characters, as they grapple with grief and loss, while steadfastly hoping for a change of happiness in the face of life's uncertainties -- Eithne Farry - UK Press Syndication

Lawson's writing is such that it appears effortless but, as all the strands come together to create a rich and satisfying tapestry, her genius for storytelling becomes apparent. - Irish Independent

[Lawson] writes an unpretentious prose that zings with metaphorical vim and humour - Tablet,Summer Reads of 2021*