This Must Be the Place

A Novel

By: Kate Racculia

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

The Darby-Jones boardinghouse in Ruby Falls, New York, is home to Mona Jones and her daughter, Oneida, two loners and self-declared outcasts who have formed a perfectly insular family unit: the two of them and the four eclectic boarders living in their house. But their small, quiet life is upended when Arthur Rook shows up in the middle of a nervous breakdown, devastated by the death of his wife, carrying a pink shoe box containing all his wife's mementos and keepsakes, and holding a postcard from 16 years ago, addressed to Mona but never sent.

Slowly the contents of the box begin to fit together to tell a story---one of a powerful friendship, a lost love, and a secret that, if revealed, could change everything that Mona, Oneida, and Arthur know to be true. Or maybe the stories the box tells and the truths it brings to life will teach everyone about love - how deeply it runs, how strong it makes us, and, even when all seems lost, how tightly it brings us together.

With emotional accuracy and great energy, This Must Be the Place introduces memorable, charming characters that refuse to be forgotten.

©2010 Kate Racculia (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Boston-based Racculia has packed enough emotion, personality, and deft writing into her debut novel to power this small town.... A treasure." (Library Journal)

Nice 'quest' novel

At the beginning, I thought to my dismay "here comes another one of those characters-scattered-everywhere novels", you know, the ones that make you wish the author had provided a "cast of characters" like in a program for a play, but the assortment of people are all connected after all. It's very well written, really can't say anything negative about it - although there are a few events that straddle behavioral conflicts and cause the reader to question his/her own opinions on various issues. Can't say more without spoiling. I also had a hard time relating to the two main women because their names seemed to me to be so archaic and I couldn't connect with them as modern, attractive, contemporary women. What's in a name? Plenty! I also couldn't tell them apart, and I was always confusing their story lines; oddly, for protagonists they didn't seem as meticulously portrayed as some of the other characters.

Fun!

Interesting, complex characters making their way through imaginative, full-bodied scenes that move & tie together in sometimes fun, sometimes heartbreaking adventures.

Excellent!

What did you love best about This Must Be the Place?

Each character was well developed and interesting, including the cat!

What was one of the most memorable moments of This Must Be the Place?

Just the right amount of words to set each scene in perfect picture. The story line was created with memorable moments that were layered together like a delicious dish, each unique, but absolutely needed for the whole. A great book for an adult and also would be loved by a teen audience.

Any additional comments?

I truly enjoyed the true to life story line of the mother & daughter in a not a "white picket fence" relationship. Racculia was brilliant in capturing an authentic voice for each.

Good listening

I enjoyed this book by Kate Racculia, especially her character development. The story is relatively complex in that it weaves from relationship to relationship yet brings them all together well. It's not violent or disturbing but shows the highs and lows of the human experience.

It made me laugh made me cry. No. It actually did

I don't understand why Racusa isn't better known. Her books are smart and emotional without sappiness. She's just an excellent storyteller. I hope she writes many more.