At the Wake is an unflinching exploration of family, legacy, and the long shadow cast by one man's life. Achiel Van Slyck was a man of contradictions-a war hero who took pride in his service, but also a vindictive neighbor, a volatile father, and a man whose actions shattered lives, including his own. When he murdered Clifford Ellis in 1975, the crime sent shockwaves through his family and community, leaving scars and secrets that would ripple across generations.
Through a kaleidoscope of perspectives-his wife, children, siblings, and even his victims-Achiel's story unfolds in fragments, revealing a complex portrait of a man shaped by trauma, war, and a simmering rage. As each family member recounts their experiences, they grapple with the truths of their shared past, the weight of Achiel's legacy, and their own struggles to reconcile love, anger, and loss.
Set against the backdrop of small-town dynamics and spanning decades, At the Wake delves into the messy, often painful process of confronting one's history. It's a tale of resilience, reflection, and the ways in which families try to move forward while bearing the imprint of the past. Michael David MacBride weaves a haunting and evocative narrative that challenges readers to ask: can we ever truly escape the shadows of our ancestors?
About the Author :
Originally from Michigan, Michael MacBride now calls Minnesota home. He has delivered newspapers, worked for UPS, delivered pizzas, done collections at a bank, was a roadie for a country band, was a grant-writer and funder-researcher for non-profits, taught English, Literature, and Humanities courses at universities and colleges in Minnesota, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Illinois, and held a few other jobs in between. Now, he writes, helps others publish their books with Salty Books Publishing, and has a "regular" job, too. He thoroughly enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and their two boys.
Review :
"A powerful and nuanced family saga." Kirkus Reviews
"A raw and unapologetic examination of the generational damage suffered by the family of a convicted killer." Rob Jung, author of The Reaper, an Amazon best-seller.
