Water is running out all over the world... except at one farm, THE WELL. Ruth Ardingly is returning home to The Well to finish out her prison sentence under house arrest. Ruth still mourns the loss of Lucien, her grandson, while remaining under suspicion of his murder. Will Ruth's emotional journey through her past help her find the murderer and face her future?

Catherine Chanter does a marvelous job at depicting the various characters through Ruth's eyes. I love how she weaves layers of doubt into the storyline, so that no one is truly without potential fault. The contrast between Hugh and the Sisters of the Rose is particularly fascinating, as we see both the healthy and unhealthy sides of religion.

However, it is the description of Lucien's death and subsequent portrayal of Ruth's grief that truly made THE WELL a masterpiece. Until that moment, I thought the story was intriguing but a bit lengthy in some of the retelling. That scene and the emotions evoked are the true heart of the story and make every single word necessary.

THE WELL is a deeply moving and introspective look at the crumbling of society through the microcosm of one family. Catherine Chanter draws the reader into Ruth's world and allows us to see how the lack of water elsewhere- despite their farm having plenty- slowly erodes away Ruth's comfortable life. THE WELL is a stunning portrayal of the damage that crisis (particularly if you possess the one thing everyone else needs) and grief can cause a family. THE WELL is highly recommended!