Service by Sarah Gilmartin: book review
Overview: Chef Daniel Costello is on top of the world, his name on the restaurant that he's built to be a long-running two Michelin star spot. After coming this far, he's confident that nothing can slow him down. But then the online letter comes out accusing Costello of sexual assault, signed by four of his former employees. The trial that follows dredges up long buried memories and reshapes Costello's family forever. Told from the perspective of Hannah, a former employee, Julie, Costello's wife, and Daniel himself, this novel takes a fascinating, human look at a sexual assault trial and the restaurant industry. Overall: 4.5
Characters: 5 The characters' different voices come through with such clarity in this novel. It's infamously difficult to write a multi-POV novel (especially in first person) that's truly well balanced, but Gilmartin executes this effortlessly. Hannah opens the novel and acts as the guide through the restaurant industry, particularly the happenings at T, for the reader. She's the perfect lens as a young waitress putting herself through Trinity, new to the restaurant world. She makes her surroundings come to life for the reader, and as her story and its connection to the wider plot comes together, it is all the more gut wrenching for the reader.
Julie shares her chapter addressed to the "you" of her husband. She spends most of her chapters trying to grapple with the husband she knows and the accusations that come out during the trial. As time goes on, she starts to get more honest with herself, revealing to the reader things she suppressed to herself. Her will to rationalize, stabilize, and power through the situation feels extremely honest, and her growth over the book ends up mirror Hannah's in a satisfying way.
Daniel's chapters make a interesting and uncommon addition. Usually, these stories are only told from one angle, and while it's hard to find sympathy for the man, it's wild to see the way that he re-characterizes events in his head and justifies claiming innocence to himself and the world. His cavalier qualities are obvious from an outside perspective, but it's fascinating to see how it manifests in his mind.
Plot: 5 The book begins with Hannah telling stories about her time in the Dublin restaurant and then the trial is introduced as we shift through the different perspectives for the first time. The book unfolds with upping tension as the trial nears and then begin. Hannah is not involved with the trial, so her chapters unfold in a sort of parallel to the couple. It's clear that Hannah has a personal tie to the trial, but that is a piece of tension that's held till nearly the end of the book. Gilmartin strikes the perfect balance of internal and external tension to keep you stuck in the book. It's hard to do it justice with a description in this review.
Writing: 5 The writing is exceptional. I picked up the book because the cover caught my eye, and while I wasn't sure about the book from the summary, I read the first page, and I knew I couldn't put it down. The way Gilmartin pulls you in from the first page is consistent throughout the book. It's almost impossible to put down because the voice is magnificent, and the world feels exceptionally real. This is a hard story to tell, and Gilmartin does it with so much grace and care.
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