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“The Night we Lost Him,” by Laura Dave, is the story of the Noons, a family dealing with some unique dynamics. The fact that their dynamics are so much different from any that I've experienced, or encountered, made me want to read this novel.
In the prologue readers learn about Liam, the father, a rich hotel magnate. Liam is contemplating his life, seeing himself as a young man looking at some property and meeting a potential partner. His mind travels to his children—three in total—Nora, Tommy and Sam. Liam has been married three times and feels he has failed as a father.
As he walks out to the cliffs of his favorite property, Windbreak, Liam is remembering a time when he was at Windbreak with “her,” reminiscing about the wonderful memories they made together. His mind continues to wander. He knows he wasn’t a good father, but feels it wasn’t because of his selfishness but rather that he was protecting his children. This is the last thought Liam has before he falls to his death over the cliffs.
After this tragedy, readers get to know Nora, an interior designer who is meeting her client, Morgan. The two discuss Morgan’s idea for a Victorian house, Nora wishing Morgan’s fiancée would arrive so they can go over some design ideas together.
Nora, a daughter from Liam’s first marriage, is in love with Jack, a down-to-earth
chef. The other two adult children of Liam’s are Sam and Tommy, twins from Liam’s second marriage. Liam keeps his children separated but spends time with each individually. The adult children know of each other and have gone to school together.
Liam also has a cousin Joe. Liam and Joe were raised like brothers, attended
school together, lived together after college and spent the last several decades working together. Even though they bickered, they managed to be mostly exempt from conflict.
Joe and Liam were best friends. Liam, with Joe’s help, manages to amass a small fortune with the hotel chain. Liam’s vision for the hotels is to keep them small and elegant, to offer excellent customer service—to be a place where adults can come to decompress from their hectic lives, to relax and enjoy the hotels’ numerous amenities. Each hotel is unique. Liam designed the hotels based on where they were, the surrounding area and culture. Liam’s personnel favorite is Windbreak with its beautiful cliffs and beach.
Soon after the story begins, the children learn of Liam’s death. He apparently
decided to go to Windbreak instead of attending a party with his current wife. According to the authorities, Liam’s death is ruled an accident. Sam feels this father’s death wasn’t an accident and Nora believes it was since the official police reports states that it was.
“The Night We Lost Him” takes many twists and turns as Liam’s offspring try to discover the truth and learn about their father and his secrets—so many secrets and people unwilling to speak about the tragedy. While trying to solve the mystery of their father’s life and death, they learn about themselves and what their father wanted for each of them.
This is a good mystery and an excellent book on human nature. Readers will feel the frustration Sam and Nora feel as they talk to people and know they are not hearing everything about their father and his untimely death.
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