67. The Big Girls by Susanna Moore

Sloatsburg Correctional Institute is a women’s prison in upstate New York that houses the infamous Helen Nash, who killed her two children because God told her to protect them. Helen, a victim of severe childhood abuse and who hears voices she calls The Messengers, is new to the prison system and is struggling to fit into her new world of “families” and bribes. Dr. Louise Forrest, Sloatsburg’s psychiatrist, could have chosen a job anywhere, but instead chose the prison and becomes attached to Helen. Ike Bradshaw, a corrections officer in the prison, falls in love with Louise, but also is involved with many of the women in the prison. The famous movie actress, Angie Mills, becomes involved in the story line when Helen starts to write to her and later becomes convinced Angie could be her long lost sister.

At first, readers will have a hard time understanding why and how all the characters are connected. Over time, it becomes very apparent and the story starts to jell better. All four points of view alternate frequently and the character of Helen is especially drawn well. Readers become sympathetic with her horrible life and what she ultimately does to her family. I listened to the audio book version of this new novel and the narrators did an effective job in this alternating story. The character of Angie, and her shallow Hollywood views is especially funny and disturbing.