Strange Horizons, January 13, 2014

“The Innocence of a Place” by Margaret Ronald

Reviewed by Jamie Lackey

The speculative element in “The Innocence of a Place” by Margaret Ronald is subtle, like the sense of dread that grows as the story progresses. The epistolary form, which can often be distancing and distracting, works perfectly in this story. The main character spends her time researching a tragedy that claimed the lives of fifteen girls and their caretakers, and as she submerges herself in history, her grip on the world around her grows more tenuous. Overall a beautiful, haunting story that is well worth your time.

Jamie Lackey lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and their cat. Her Kickstarter-funded short story collection, One Revolution, is available on Amazon.com. Find her online at www.jamielackey.com.