The Little Friend

*The Little Friend* by Donna Tartt is a dark, atmospheric novel set in Mississippi, focusing on Harriet, a young girl mourning her brother’s tragic death. As she investigates her brother’s murder decades earlier, the story explores themes of grief, identity, and the unsettling nature of childhood innocence. The novel delves into the quiet, often hidden, complexities of small-town life, balancing suspense with deep character study. Tartt’s richly detailed prose creates a brooding, introspective mood, inviting readers to reflect on loss and the ways it shapes our understanding of ourselves and others.