The Absence of Nectar

by Kathy Hepinstall

Warning: The Absence of Nectar is raw and disturbing and intense. Love and romance do not exist in this world. The author creates characters that are meek, evil and show the worst state of human consciousness. The book is written in the voice of 12 year old Alice recalling the suspenseful and evil events surrounding her family and her new stepfather, Simon Jester. Even Simon’s act of heroism immediately exudes hate and menace like a rotting flesh.

As the story opens we are introduced to bible verse spouting Simon Jester as he presses a hot spatula on 12 year old Alice’s face leaving a scar for life. And soon Alice’s mother is telling Alice and Boone to Run. Run to where or to whom is not immediately certain but it propels the story and introduces crazy nutcases such as Persely Snow, recently escapee from the mental institution. Persely brings an energy to the story that saves it from drowning in morbidity and depression.

The cloth of oppression builds as Alice describes her terror and suspicion that Simon is trying to poison her and her family at every meal. Every cough and tic is analyzed and remedies are memorized in the event they are injected with poison. And then the dog dies.

Meg, Alice and Boone’s mother, is a depressed, lonely, sad woman who inspires nothing but banality. Relieved to have a man, even an abusive man in her life, she ignores the needs of her children and the increasingly monstrous actions of her husband until the tension grows and weighs down the life and relationships of the characters.

The author is successful in creating an atmosphere that is off-balance and murky. It’s a harsh fact that people are more willing to accept a glossy lie rather than the truth, especially if it tells them what they want to hear. A story of child abuse, The Absence of Nectar, raises questions about how we deal with evil, especially if the target of the abuse is young and surrounded by a parent that is unable and/or unwilling to protect. Alice becomes obsessed with evil, Boone turns to God, who provides no continually provides no answers and Meg turns away hoping that not acknowledging it will make it disappear.

I have never read Kathy Hepinstall but have discovered that she writes about provocative and dark subjects. If you are looking for something different that will make you think pick up one of her books when you see it.