A Year After Henry by Cathie Pelletier is an interesting glimpse of Henry Munroe's loved ones as the one year anniversary of his untimely death approaches. In the days leading up to the memorial service, everyone is still grieving his loss but perhaps their biggest struggle is reconciling the new paths their lives have taken since he passed away.

Henry's widow, Jeanie, is saddened by her husband's death but her biggest regret is not getting the chance to confront Henry about his last infidelity with bartender, Evie Cooper. In the year since his death, she has become obsessed with Evie and she spends a lot of her time stalking Evie while trying to work up the courage to confront her about the affair. While Jeanie is wallowing over past mistakes, her fifteen year old son Chad is trying to numb his pain with drugs and alcohol.

Larry Munroe always lived in the shadow of his outgoing, gregarious younger sibling and in the year following Henry's death, his life is in upheaval. After losing his wife, son and job in a shocking divorce, Larry is now living back home with his parents in the same bedroom he and Henry shared as children. He is sinking into a depression that is more about the loss of his marriage and son than Henry's death. Larry also has an unforeseen connection to Henry's former mistress and this too plays a role in his growing despair.

In a sea of sadness, Evie Cooper is an unexpectedly refreshing breath of fresh air. As the "other woman" in Henry's affair, she is not cast in the best light but there is surprising depth to her character. Evie uses her gift as a spiritual portraitist to help the grieving cope with their losses. As a bartender at the local watering hole, she offers a sympathetic ear when needed but she is also willing to step in and find a solution to a friend's increasingly dangerous situation.

Of course at the heart of the story are the various memories of Henry. As each of the characters reflect on their respective pasts, a rather unflattering portrait of Henry emerges. Although people were drawn to him, he was rather self-centered and self-absorbed. As the memorial approaches, everyone begins to gain new perspectives on his role in their lives and they begin to make peace with not only his loss, but his flaws and imperfections as well.

While the plot of A Year After Henry is unique, the novel is slow-paced and the overall flow is interrupted by meandering thought tangents and superfluous details. The characters are fascinating and it is enjoyable watching them emerge from their grief and take charge of their somewhat out of control lives. Cathie Pelletier ends the story on a hopeful note as all of the participants say their final goodbyes at Henry's memorial service. ( )

This book describes the impact of a sudden death on the family and friends of man who passed away. The most interesting aspect of the story is how a sudden death can impact people in different ways. Some carry the burden of unfinished business with the person; some experience a massive emptiness that used to be occupied by the person. Some can even feel a sense of freedom, if the person was overbearing or particularly dominant in their lives. All of these are represented in the story.

My main complaint is with the end of the book. After all the angst and significant problems explored during the story, everything is wrapped up with the perfect storybook ending, where all the issues are solved and everyone get what they needed. Its just a little too "happily ever after". ( )

In the opening line of Pelletier’s novel, the reader learns that Henry Munro had a fatal heart attacked in the summer of 2002. It’s one of my all-time favorite lines: Henry had been gone a year now, but Jeannie would never forget the moment he dies, how the bed became lighter, his soul floating upward like a white balloon. Beautiful, isn’t it?

Now it’s the summer of 2003. The story’s focus is where his wife, son, brother, and mistress are in their grief process. Widow Jeannie is stuck. She’s still furious at Henry for his infidelity, obsessed with his mistress, Evie, who she stalks, and dreading the memorial service his mother insists be held.

Chad, Henry’s fifteen-year-old son, is trying to numb his pain with drugs and alcohol. He’s a relatively minor character, but his appearance and the affect Henry’s death has on him is important. I often wondered why Jeannie didn’t do more to comfort him, or at least acknowledge his existence.

Larry, Henry’s brother, has hit rock bottom. Henry’s death came at the end of a nasty divorce in which Larry not only loses his wife, but also his son and his job. He’s back at home, living with his parents, barely able to get out of bed.

Evie Cooper is the only character now wallowing in grief. Yes, she’s shattered, but her work as a spiritual portraitist gives her comfort. The idea of an occupation drawing pictures of the dead people she sees is unique and interesting.

I enjoyed this book. Not so much for the character, but for the way Pelletier weaves in Henry’s faults and weaknesses. He becomes a real person again, not a sainted memory. There are not as many beautiful passages as the first line A Year After Henry, but it an exquisitely written work. ( )

It has been a year since forty one year old Henry Munroe unexpectedly passed away. While his mother arranges a a memorial service for her ‘golden boy’, Henry’s wife, Jeanie, is stalking his ex mistress, Evie, his teenage son Chad is drinking and smoking pot, and Henry’s brother, newly divorced and unemployed, is sleeping in the room they shared as children. A Year After Henry by Cathie Pelletier explores the process of grief, loss and letting go.

Each of Pelletier’s characters are struggling to come to terms with the emotional aftermath of Henry’s demise, as well as the changes it has has wrought in the direction of their lives. As the memorial service approaches they are forced to confront their angst and reconcile both their love and ambivalence for the son, husband, father, brother and lover they have lost.

Jeanie is the most conflicted character as her husband’s death occurred just as she had mustered the courage to confront him about his history of adultery. This complicates her mourning process and she develops a mild obsession with one his last lovers, Evie.

I was surprised by the paranormal aspect that Evie brings to this story. It is not really a significant element, but allows Pelletier to explore another facet of grief. Evie is a local bartender and Spiritual Portraitist whose brief fling with Henry haunts her, especially as she realises she is falling in love with his brother Larry.

Larry misses his brother despite having always lived in Henry’s shadow. Henry’s status as the family golden boy is only elevated by his sudden death, particularly in contrast to Larry’s messy personal crisis which includes being forced to move back in with his parents after his recent divorce, and being fired from job as a school teacher.

A low-key character driven novel, there are flashes of humor and pathos in this poignant story of grief, loss and letting go. A Year After Henry is Cathie Pelletier’s 11th book. ( )