8-year old Greer falls off his horse and witnesses a man beating a woman. His quick thinking helps the won’t escape but the man threatens to kill him and his family so he tries to keep the secret.

A great premise for me and then it just stopped. I wanted to love it but sadly I didn’t. Thank you to netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Secrets and lies. Greer didn't expect what would happen when he helped someone. Now it's come back to haunt him and others. A good read.

Thomas & Mercer, as well as NetGalley, provided me with an electronic copy of The Measure of the Moon. I voluntarily chose to review this novel and my opinion is freely given.

When eight year old Greer Donner takes his mother's horse without asking, he never expected how much that action would forever change his life.

Gillian Trett is a photographer with a issues surrounding her past and a present marriage that is not without troubles. Coming across an old man’s Holocaust photo of boys in a forest, Greer is haunted enough by the image to want to discover the truth behind it.

Separated by a generation, the two distinct plot lines carry along well into the book. In an attempt to show the readers the totality of the setting, the plot, and the characters, the author describes everything in such detail that the reader does not have to imagine anything. The two plots do not wind together, giving the feeling of two books instead of one story. Overall, the promise of The Measure of the Moon was ultimately more than what the author gave, so I would not recommend it to other readers.

This is a mystery book… a mystery to the characters in the book that is.

The Donner family is trying to figure out what has caused Greer to change his attitude, his actions, and his life. The reader is privy to the knowledge of what happen to Greer. I loved that the Donner family didn’t just think Greer was acting out. They knew their child/sibling well enough to know that something had happen to make him act the way he is. They also went about trying to get him help without pushing him to say or do something that would cause him more trouble. The support, the love, and the acceptance within the Donner family is true to how every family should be.

What happen to Greer was horrible. The fact that a young boy would witness what he did and then kept it all a secret just to keep his family safe made him stronger than most boys would be and proved the love he had for his entire family. It also proved that a man’s words to a young boy can cause a lot of angst and heartbreak.

I struggled trying to figure out how Gillian Trett’s part of the story would tie into Greer’s part of the story. Gillian was not a likeable character from the beginning. From the beginning of her story she was standoffish, rude, and just not warm and welcoming. She partially redeemed herself as the story went on.
The Measure of the Moon is interesting with its dual storylines.

Greer - 9-year-old boy who saw a crime. A boy attacked by the perpetrator, warned to never tell, or else the perpetrator would kill all of his family.
Gillian - a photographer feeling unsettled. A photographer who, when exploring the old camera, finds the old photo film, with one picture taken.
The boy and the female photographer are connected, yet they have their own story about that what is hidden.

This is partly mystery, partly psychological drama.
The mystery was well done, even if there is too much of loud, loving family around, if you ask me (Can there even be too much of loving family? Yes. They are here to demonstrate the warm connection, something totally different from the Gillian's family situation - and while I like them and their bonds, they also feel like a filler, a better developed plot props). Gillian's story is mainly psychological- she is trying to understand an old story, and when the story takes an unexpected turn, she is forced to evaluate her hidden needs and wants.
And the un/compatibity of the both stories is what drives me away. I like the Greer story with its mystery angle and the boy's both brave and foolish fight. I am tired by the Gillian's psychological journey. I think if this were two separate books, the message of finding the hidden and forgiving the un/forgivable would be more effective.

Yet-the psychological issues ARE interesting. Sometimes a bit heavy, but definitely interesting. And the writing skills of the authoress are very good. I think she loves her characters too much, so she gets immersed in their world/s too much. Which is a cute trait (even if I still wish for a better editor).
Having said all that, this is an interesting read, well-worth of reader's club discussions.

a great mixture of family drama and a crime story.
Its very much a character driven story, which i personally really enjoy, with beautiful atmospheric writing.
This book was nicely done, it just had a good number of moments that i found a bit strange too convent in some way... but overall this was a great read and worth a read!

This book wasn’t for me. I decided not to review it on my site or any of the major retailers/Goodreads.

This was gripping and suspenseful. A great read that had me gripped from the first page. I read this quickly and just couldn't put it down. Highly recommended

The Measure of the Moon was essentially two books that merged in the final chapter when the characters from each story met and discussed the element that connected them. Granted, there was a "connection" between the stories earlier, but it was part of the "mystery" that was driving both stories somewhat. Usually when more than one storyline occurs in a novel, they merge sooner or more completely. I'd like to see each story in this novel developed on their own.
Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of The Measure of the Moon.

"If you ever say anything to anyone, they all die".

And just like that, Lisa Preston pulls her audience through the opening scene of this page-turner. Immediately immersing us in the tale of the darkest and scariest night of Greer Donner's life, Measure of the Moon launches right into the heart of the story.

And then, with an unforeseen (and somewhat abrupt) turn, readers are introduced to a completely separate set of characters. And so goes the story - Preston pulls characters in and out, with expert description and captivating dialogue. It does seem, however, to get a bit confusing. The reader is introduced to the Donner family first and then Paul and Gillian, a married couple living a few hours away. Through them, the reader meets yet another family - the Istoks. And through all this beautiful, haunting detail, there is a subtle nagging in the back of the reader's mind: Huh?

Though gripping and written with enough detail to almost be able to hear ferryboats on the Seattle waterways, smell the rain and see the Needle off in the distance, it gets a little annoying that none of these stories seem to intertwine. At least for me - I couldn't figure it out...until I figured it out. And once the connections become clear, it's easy to say that this is one of the best books I've read in a long time.

Reminiscent of Gillian Flynn or Heather Gudenkauf in style, this suspense is a must-read. And I kind of hope you don't figure it out sooner than I did - half the fun is in not knowing...

I really struggled this one. I love the author. I feel like she was writing two different books and just decided to combine the two. It felt disjointed. I am not posting a review on my blog, but have given the links for the social media's I use.below. I will gladly read Lisa Preston's novels in the future this one just went flat.

I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Lisa Preston, and Thomas and Mercer Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your work with me.

The Measure of the Moon is an excellent tale about the binding ties of family and the depth of evil out there in our world. I enjoyed this look at Washington state outside the bounds of Seattle, and becoming a part of the Donner family through the serious emotional trial Greer must face after his ordeal in the woods. The two stories entwine well, keeping you on your toes as the story evolves. Lisa Preston is an author to follow.

Greer showed that he was a very mature eight year old. During the assault, he did some quick thinking, even if it was not such a smart move. Yet, Greer saved a life that night. Ever since than, Greer has been haunted by the man's threats. So much to the point that Greer retreats within himself and we the readers see a transformation within Greer to not be the happy boy he once was. Luckily, for him, he had a good family support system with lots of people who cared for him.

On the other hand, Gillian did not have family support. Not even from her husband. That is why I think that when Gillian found the old photo, she committed to finding out the truth. Than when she met Alexandru Istok, who had saved the children in the photograph from the Nazis. They were Jewish; she was focused on trying to give someone a happy ending.

One of the reader questions for discussion in the back of the book is around Gillian and Greer and what the difference between their situations were like when their is family support. Through Greer's story, it shows that support of any kind either family or close friends, is very important. Without it, the results could be devastating. The author did a good job of bring life to the characters and making me the reader really connect with both Gillian and Greer. Although, the rest of the characters in the story were just as important. Nothing better than a story with well-developed characters and a moving story.

The Measure of the Moon is a family drama/crime thriller, character driven and more on the literary side of things, I found it both tense and atmospheric also beautifully written.

It is a slow burner but in a good way, Lisa Preston manages to breathe a life into her characters that is utterly gripping – both Greer and Gillian have very different circumstances but so much links them, this yin/yang effect was highly compelling. One moment can have a lifetime of consequences, this is a theme that is explored here somewhat alongside many others, all of which weave a complex yet fascinating tale where the reward is in the coming together of it all.

The exploration of trauma, childhood trauma especially in Greer’s case is wonderfully done – Greer who cannot speak of what he saw and yet if affects his very heart, is a sympathetic and engaging character and the whole novel has an authentic almost noir feel about it. The historical aspects worked well, I am fond of a story that has many strands that interconnect ultimately to give a full picture, as we follow Greer, Gillian and the rest (I was particularly drawn to orphans Alice and Alex) you are immersed into these lives until the final pages.

Overall I was a fan of this one. I’d recommend it for fans of literary crime with family drama elements and clever plotting.

THE MEASURE OF THE MOON follows two story lines with seemingly unconnected characters but toward the end of the book, the stories intertwine. While I found the premise of the book interesting, the writing was uneven, even florid in places and that detracted from my enjoyment. I think the book could have benefited from further work and editing.

8-year old Greer has everything a little boy could ever want: loving parents, a sheltered childhood growing up in the natural beauty a stone-throw away from the Olympic National Park, and five older siblings who nurture and protect him. But his life changes for ever on the night he witnesses a man assault a woman in the woods. Little Greer knows wrong when he sees it, and he is not afraid to step in and confront the assailant. Due to his brave intervention, the woman manages to escape, but the man’s angry last words will ring in his ears forever: If you tell, I will kill your whole family. His family, the people he loves most in the whole world. Greer’s lips are sealed as he pictures images so horrible they haunt him in his sleep. With a secret so terrible, Greer begins to unravel, and no one knows why ....

In Seattle, Gillian dreams of a different life, and feels terrible to be so ungrateful. Doesn’t she have everything a woman could possibly want? A loving husband, a beautiful home, enough money to be comfortable for the rest of her life, and her job as photographer which has so far fulfilled her. But there is a burning desire for excitement that will not go away. When she stumbles upon an old photograph of a group of solemn-faced children hidden in an antique camera, she is intrigued to find out more about their background, not realising that the story she will discover will change her life ....

The Measure of the Moon is a thought provoking, haunting tale of the burden of childhood trauma and its effects on different people from different family backgrounds. Greer, who has a big loving family to support him. Gillian, whose alcoholic parents had left her and her sister Becky to fend for themselves as children, and who both cope in different ways with the after effects of neglect. Alex and Alice, orphans growing up in an unimaginable time with terrible choices to make. And Liz, the mysterious woman on the run with a young child. As their stories intersect, each one must rely on their inner strength to make choices, right or wrong, which will shape their lives in different ways.

The author’s background in emergency services obviously stays her in good stead when it comes to understanding different people and their motivations, and her characters and their backgrounds are richly drawn and authentic. In fact, I thought I must have missed an earlier book in a series, as the novel assumes a certain familiarity with the Greer clan that made me feel like they have featured in other novels before, so detailed were their individual histories. I could picture them vividly in my mind, feeling their confusion and pain in seeing their youngest family member unravel before their very eyes without knowing why. What greater agony could there be for a parent than seeing their child suffer and being helpless to help? It was agony to read about the fear locked into the boy’s heart from a threat so carelessly uttered by a violent man. Whilst I also found Gillian an intriguing and likeable character, I found her story to be a bit overshadowed by the many side-stories relating to the Greer clan.

The Measure of the Moon is a slow, contemplative and character driven drama rather than a fast-paced mystery, and I especially loved the historical element introduced by the old photo, which I felt intriguing. At times I longed for a bit more action as the story slowly simmered along, but all in all I really enjoyed the journey. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Nothing makes us as lonely as our secrets. - Paul Tournier

If I had to pick one word for this book, it would be "chaotic." At the center of this suspense novel is a large, rambunctious family - the Donners. And I had a heck of a time keeping everyone straight, such as who was married to whom. I finally decided it didn't make a lot of difference because the characters were so much alike.

I wanted to like this story more than I did. It certainly sounded like my kind of story. Eight year-old Greer Donner takes off on his mother's horse without telling anyone where he was going. He wanted some peace and quiet away from his noisy family. Well, the horse shies away from something and Greer falls off far away from home. So now he knows he's really going to be in trouble. He sets off walking back and comes upon a terrible scene and the ramifications of that encounter cause little Greer to live in terror, not telling anyone what happened.

There's another storyline intertwined with Greer's story and I felt it was just too much - at least as detailed as it got.

I'm doing my best here not to have any spoilers because I don't believe that book reviews should be written like book reports. Just know that this was just an okay story to me. It could have been much better in my opinion by leaving a huge part of the family drama out and also by paring the second storyline down to bare essentials.

I received this book from Thomas & Mercer through Net Galley in exchange for my unbiased review.

The characterization developed by the author was compelling and believable. I felt like there had been previous stories and background that I might have missed out on. Because of this, it was difficult to keep all the characters straight. Liked the story line and the movement from one perspective to another.

Fantastic story! Looking forward to reading more by this author!

After being thrown from his horse in the woods of Washington, 8-year-old Greer begins the long walk home. He comes upon a scene straight out of a horror movie, as he sees a man trying to beat a woman to death. Picking up a gun he finds on the scene, he screws up his courage and orders the man to stop, giving the woman time to escape. The man promises Greer that if her ever reveals what he’s seen, he will come back and murder everyone the boy loves. In Seattle, photographer Gillian Trent is trying to forget about her crappy marriage by losing herself in her obsession to track down the truth about a Holocaust photograph of two boys in a forest. Gillian’s search will lead her, not only yo the truth about her own past but to the connection with young Greer. Lisa Preston is a master storyteller, she writes such authentic characters they come to life and will be remembered long after readers finish this book