The Big Finish

February 15, 2020
In Fossey's debut, a grumpy assisted living resident realizes his life still has surprises in store. Duffy Sinclair, 88, knows he didn't make the most of his life. He spent years of it as an alcoholic, but in his sober old age he's finally found a home at Centennial, an assisted living facility. He has a best friend--his roommate, Carl, who shares everything with him. He has crushes and nemeses and playful banter with the staff members. Things are perfect--except that Centennial's new owner will use any excuse to kick residents out so she can rent their rooms for more money, leaving them no option but a poorly run nursing home. Duffy tries to be on his best behavior and stay in line--but then a young woman tumbles through his window. It turns out she's Carl's granddaughter--one Duffy never knew he had. She has a black eye, an alcohol problem, and nowhere to stay--and Carl thinks she should camp out in their room. Duffy knows that getting caught hiding an alcoholic 20-something would earn him an immediate one-way ticket out of Centennial, and at first he tells Carl and Josie no way. But as he gets to know Josie and see the kind of pain he knows all too well, Duffy realizes he might finally have a chance to make up for all those wasted years. Duffy is cantankerous, gruff, and occasionally unkind, but his head is always an entertaining place to be. It's clear that he cares deeply about his friends and fellow Centennial residents, and it's impossible not to root for him. Fossey manages to depict the struggles of the elderly, whose concerns aren't often examined in fiction, in a way that's both respectful and entertaining. A moving, funny, and ultimately hopeful look at what makes life meaningful.

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from February 24, 2020
In Fossey’s delightful debut, an elderly man finds a new lease on life after a surprise visit from his nursing home roommate’s granddaughter. Duffy Sinclair is leading a placid life in Everton, Tex., when Josie, his roommate Carl Upton’s previously unmentioned granddaughter, bursts into their room through a window, drunk and looking for a place to crash. Reeling from the recent death of her mother—Carl’s love child—and running from her abusive live-in boyfriend, Josie, an alcoholic, has nowhere else to go. The two men’s efforts to keep Josie’s presence in their room on the down low (and keep Josie’s abusive ex at bay) make for a sparkling, well-plotted treat. Duffy, a recovering alcoholic, grows invested in Josie’s well-being along with his own, while Carl mourns his stillborn son. The avaricious owner of the nursing home plays the villain, overcharging guests for repairs and sending those with signs of infirmity to a far grimmer home, while a sympathetic chef looks out for Duffy, Carl, and Josie. Fossey’s portrayal of Josie’s alcohol addiction and her efforts to recover draw sympathy, along with Duffy’s hard-won, sometimes white-knuckle sobriety. A completely logical yet somehow unexpected ending will leave readers smiling—and looking forward to Fossey’s next effort.

April 1, 2020

DEBUT This humorous, wise novel features octogenarian Duffy Sinclair and a cast of characters residing in the Centennial Assisted Living Home. While curmudgeonly Duffy may be a bit of a prankster, his one fervent hope is that he can continue his days at Centennial and not be sent to a nearby roach-infested nursing home. Duffy and his rigid, stuffy roommate, Carl, are close friends who enjoy their daily banter, though each harbors some deep, crushing secrets. When a scantily clad young woman with a black eye falls through their bedroom window, the stunned, alarmed roommates at first mistake her for a thief. But it's Carl's granddaughter Josie, on the run from a bad boyfriend. What transpires is a terrific madcap, covert caper involving plenty of honorable high jinks that will endear Centennial's ragtag golden-agers to readers. The antics are enhanced by Southern vernacular and slang in this warm, life-affirming tale that highlights the importance of finding family where you can. VERDICT Fans of Kathleen Rooney's Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk and Rachel Joyce's The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry will appreciate this delightful romp. Fossey's debut is destined to become a book club favorite.--Andrea Tarr, Corona P.L., CA

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2020
At the Centennial assisted living home, 80-year-old Duffy and his roommate, Carl, live a quiet life and try to avoid the wrath of administrator Sharon, who constantly threatens to send any wayward residents to the local nursing home, considered by all to be the end of the line. When Carl's granddaughter Josie climbs through their bedroom window one evening, Duffy and Carl find themselves facing the trouble they so desperately tried to avoid. Arriving with a black eye and smelling of booze, Josie is the granddaughter Carl never knew he had, and he just wants to protect her. Duffy soon gets involved and quickly finds himself breaking all the rules, trading his peaceful life for the chance to help a struggling girl find her feet. Fossey's debut is a warm and deeply funny look at the lives of two seniors who learn it is never too late to grow old with style. Filled with rich, pitch-perfect dialogue, this is a sweet story of people finding meaning and creating family in the places they least expected.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)