Roy A. K. Heath (1926–2008)

Despite being a fairly short book (186p), I found it took me quite a while to wade through it..and yet it's quite well written and memorable. You just can't do too much at a time.
This is the final volume of Heath's Armstrong trilogy (of which I'd read the first last year), featuring a dysfunctional family- well-to-do mother, abusive father, disapproving relatives on both sides- and as we learn here, a brother who has left town after becoming inappropriately involved with his sister
This volume concerns itself with said sister.
I found Genetha a somewhat unknowable character, drifting as a lonely, respectable woman from her boring, correct suitor into a highly unsuitable relationship with one Fingers. Things go terribly wrong; and after a spell in a mental institution, Genetha is forever labelled. Moving between religion, her disapproving maternal relatives....and the former servant, who since being unfairly dismissed by Genetha's late mother offers the girl a non-judgemental home in her brothel...
There's a strange dreamy quality to the tale, but Heath sure can write!… (más)