"What Happened to the McCrays?" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider

Author Tracey Lange knows families, as evidenced by a favorite of mine, “We Are the Brennans,” (2021).  In her recent literary offering, Lange again focuses on familial relationships. “What Happened to the McCrays,” is certain to have mass appeal as it unravels the why behind the breakup of a devoted couple.

Told in sections of “Then” and “Now,” the novel opens with Kyle McCray getting news that his veteran firefighter father, from Potsdam, New York, has had a severe stroke. Kyle was born and raised in Potsdam, an upstate community where hockey reigns supreme.

For reasons not explained at the onset, Kyle left Potsdam a couple of years ago and has been working as a mechanic at Georgie’s Automotive in Spokane, Washington. Not knowing how serious his father’s stoke has been, Kyle rushes to book a flight and return home to Danny McCray, the kind-hearted father he loves, whose wife deserted him when Kyle was just 12.

Kyle was married to Casey Higgins for 16 years, a middle school teacher in Potsdam, a young woman eager to go to bat for the town’s middle school hockey team, badly in need of new uniforms and a winning record. Casey is even steps in and coaches the team when their coach suddenly throws in the towel. It’s clear from the onset that Casey and Kyle, who dated in high school, are good people, committed to community and family.

The reason for their breakup remains a mystery—the two haven’t seen or talked to one another since Kyle left Potsdam, but his father’s illness draws Casey back into the family fold, a reunion of sorts that Casey enters with hesitancy. Yet she remains steadfastly loyal to Kyle’s father and wants to help out.

Once Kyle and Casey’s present day situation is introduced, we get to know the couple in high school, where Kyle was the star hockey player. Kyle also sometimes babysat for the neighbor lady’s son when big sister Casey was out of the night and her mom had to work as a nurse. Though Kyle didn’t always appreciate being taken away from fun nights with his friends, Kyle forms a solid friendship with Wyatt, who is wheelchair bound, and his friendship with Casey blossoms into a romance, one in which mutual love and respect is paramount until tragedy strikes during their marriage.

Readers will want to be patient with “What Happened to the McCrays” and not prejudge the novel as being too predictable at the onset. As the story unfurls, and details behind Kyle and Casey’s breakup are gradually revealed, the reality of their challenges becomes achingly realistic, the secrets they keep from one another heart-wrenching.

In this beautiful book, Lange addresses love, grief and how relationships suffer when feelings aren’t openly shared and processed, no matter how deep and formidable the abyss may seem.

Buy the Book.