“I’m Walt and she was Mary, and she’s somewhere else now.”
Walt is an unusual psychological thriller told mainly from the point of view of the title character, a seemingly ordinary, middle-aged grocery-store janitor, who lives in a small Canadian city, loves fly-fishing, and collects discarded shopping lists. The lists are surprisingly revealing, fascinating, and sometimes even heartbreaking to the lonely janitor, as he vividly imagines the private lives of the people who wrote them.
Walt’s wife, Mary, vanished more than a year ago, and the two officers of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary’s newly formed cold-case squad are suspicious. So is Alisha, the author of some of Walt’s treasured lists, an attractive young woman who can’t shake the uneasy feeling that she is being watched. Was Walt responsible for Mary’s disappearance after years in an increasingly rocky marriage? Is he stalking Alisha— and other single women? The tension builds and the mystery deepens as we learn each new detail of Walt’s activities. Bit by bit, a chilling picture emerges that never quite settles into perfect focus.
Walt is beautifully written, clearly portraying each character’s mental state and the minute details of their everyday lives, without ever straying from each character’s distinctive voice. The language is plain, but vividly descriptive and psychologically insightful, with memorable lines such as “It’s smart to be as honest as you can—the best lies are packed full of truth,” and “You always, always make exceptions for yourself when you’re judging what’s right and wrong.”
Walt’s story becomes increasingly complex as new facts and hinted-at possibilities keep the reader wondering where it will lead next. Did Mary have a lover? Was she preparing to leave? Will Walt slip up and reveal too much? Will the police finally pin down conclusive evidence? The guessing game continues as Walt’s stalking behavior escalates and the police slowly close in. Readers won’t soon forget the eerie atmosphere of this mesmerizing novel—and they’ll think twice about casually tossing a grocery list aside ever again.