The Good Father by Noah Hawley


Reviewed by Lisa Redmond
 A heartfelt and beautifully written novel, The Good Father examines the relationship between Paul Allen and his son Daniel alternating their stories in the aftermath of Daniel’s shooting of a Presidential candidate many saw as a symbol of hope.
Comparisons with We Need to Talk about Kevin will be inevitable as The Good Father deals with a parent trying to comprehend how their child could have become a killer, but written from the point of view of a father questioning his parenting skills Noah Hawley gives the age old question of nature versus nurture a fresh angle.
Paul is a rheumatologist, the doctor of last resort for many, for him diagnosis is about investigation. Inevitably as Paul tries to comprehend the choices Daniel has made he begins to compile a file examining Daniel’s life and reading about previous political assassinations he concludes that Daniel must be innocent.
We are also given an insight into Daniel’s mind as he drifts through life feeling disconnected.
This is a novel about family, love and the decisions we make. Well written, thrilling and compelling. I highly recommend it.
This review originally appeared in U Magazine

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