Fall is here along with pumpkins on the porch. It’s a perfect time to curl up with a good book and read by the fire. Finley’s Song was published at the start of fall. It recently received a BookFest and Literary Titan award along with this lovely review, below, by the Literary Titan Editor In Chief, Thomas Anderson. I feel so honored! All this recognition for my new release has intensified my love of fall. 🙂

Literary Titan Book Review

From the first page, Finley’s Song drew me into a story that mixes music, grief, and the stubborn hope that follows loss. At its heart, the book tells the story of Finley, a pianist whose husband dies in a sudden accident, leaving her to raise their son, Max, while stumbling through her own guilt and despair. The novel moves between their shared silence at home, their escape to Paris, and the healing they cautiously piece together through new connections, old memories, and the enduring pull of music. I liked how much this is not just Finley’s story but Max’s too, a portrait of a mother and son mourning in parallel yet trying to keep each other afloat.

The writing had me hooked and sometimes unsettled in the best way. Kathryn Mattingly paints grief with raw strokes, never dressing it up, never trying to make it neat. Some passages felt like a gut punch, especially when Finley blames herself for Simon’s death. The guilt is heavy, almost suffocating, and I could feel the weight of it. But then there are these glimmers, moments with Max by the river, or Finley staring at the Eiffel Tower, that break through like sunlight. I found myself both aching and rooting for them, wanting them to reach those fragile pockets of beauty again. The language isn’t flowery for the sake of it. It’s direct yet tender, and it left me pausing more than once just to sit with the feeling it stirred.

Sometimes Finley’s voice frustrated me. Her self-blame circles back so often that I caught myself whispering “let yourself breathe.” Yet, that honesty made her real. People stuck in grief do repeat themselves, and the author didn’t shy away from that truth. I also found Max’s perspective refreshing and painfully accurate. His teenage awkwardness, his longing for his father, his quiet way of observing the world, they rang true. If anything, his sections gave the book a balance it needed, grounding Finley’s spiraling thoughts with the bluntness of youth. That duality is what made the story so enjoyable for me.

Finley’s Song is filled with small, luminous moments that feel earned. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to read about loss in a way that doesn’t smooth the edges but instead embraces the messiness of it. Fans of books like Little Fires Everywhere or Where the Crawdads Sing will find a similar mix of emotional depth and vivid sense of place, but Finley’s Song feels more personal and raw, like a private journal you’ve been allowed to read.

Rating: 5

Thank you,

Thomas Anderson

Editor In Chief

Literary Titan

Finley’s Song was recently released. I reread it for final approval with the publisher, and it was like being in Paris all over again. I have to thank Winter Goose Publishing for the fine job they always do with layout. I also want to thank my writer group, who have become good friends. I don’t know what I’d do without their reader/writer expertise. I also need to thank my long time friend Ladd Woodland, who also happens to be a wonderful cover artist. And while I’m thanking people, let me thank my daughter, Anna. I never would have gone to Paris without her.

This is my sixth novel. My summer project was to reread the other five, which was a fascinating look into how my writing style has evolved over the years. Some themes are repeated in different ways, because we write what we know. It is why there is a little of me in every novel I’ve written, along with many of the people and places I’ve experienced along the way. One of my writer friends recently asked ChatGPT:

“What is Kathryn Mattingly’s writing style like?”

This is what it had to say:

Mattingly’s use of language brings settings to life, immersing readers in vibrant locales. For instance, in The Tutor, she vividly portrays the island of Roatán, capturing its crystalline beaches and vivacious culture.  Her characters are multifaceted, often grappling with internal conflicts and moral dilemmas. In Olivia’s Ghost, the protagonists’ marriage unravels following a tragic event, leading to a profound exploration of grief and belief.  

Her heroines are often driven by a need to protect or find a child, highlighting themes of resilience and empowerment. Her stories frequently delve into the psychological states of her characters, sometimes incorporating spiritual or supernatural aspects. In Katya, the protagonist experiences an alternate reality while in a coma, prompting reflections on life choices.

Mattingly employs a narrative style that gradually unveils the plot, maintaining suspense and encouraging readers to engage deeply with the unfolding story. This approach is evident in Benjamin and Journey, where secrets and past traumas are revealed over time, adding layers to the narrative.  

What specifically is my new novel, Finley’s Song about, you might ask?

Here is the back cover synopsis:

Finley’s husband is killed on his way to her concert where she is debuting a new song. She flees to Paris with her son, Max, where Finley meets a man who helps her heal and perform again. Max works through his grief while falling for a French girl and suspects Uncle Liam, who pays a surprise visit, is his biological father. Rifts and regrets happen before healing begins.

Here are some early reviews:

“Mattingly owns that elusive skill of delivering us to a distant place while drawing us in to a carefully woven chain of events which somehow involve us. Settle in.” M.C. Smith, Author of the anthology Eight Stories from a Dusty Drawer

“In Finley’s Song Mattingly once again immerses readers in a thoughtful journey. Weaving a tale of life after profound loss, we are shown the paralyzing impact of avoidance and guilt while also being gently led to the liberating power of forgiveness and love.” Leah Guthridge Caron, Author of Catalyst: Book of Living, Volume One ‘A Memoir’

“Through beautifully crafted prose, Mattingly draws readers into Finley’s journey as she grapples with grief and the fragile dynamics of family. Rich with emotional depth, this heart-tugging story is an unforgettable read!” Karista Bennett, Author of For the Love of Seafood, The Oregon Farm Table Cookbook, and debut memoir A Taste of Belonging

I am one third of the way through my next novel, The Writer, because I can’t imagine not writing….