Desert Flowers: what secrets are hidden deep in the middle of nowhere?

Desert Flowers by Paul Pen and translated by Simon Bruni is the story of one family living deep in the Baja California desert with a dark secret. Rose and Elmer have created life for themselves and their five daughters out in the middle of nowhere. They are cut off from all of modern society. They will preserve their way of life and their secret at all costs. It all seems to be working until one day when a young hiker named Rick knocks on their front door. He needs a place to stay, just for the night he says. But it’s long enough for Rose and Elmer to realize they made a horrible mistake. The longer Rick stays, the more intrusive and suspicious he becomes. What they don’t know is that Rick has a secret too. Soon, the family sanctuary won’t be a warm and inviting place anymore. It will become dark and cold as the desert nights. What will happen when their secrets are revealed? 

Paul Pen writes unusual stories which look deeper into the human psyche and behaviors they will do in order to protect themselves and their secrets. After reading Pen’s Light of the Fireflies, I had an idea of the type of story I was getting myself into. Desert Flowers is a very haunting, twisted story which leaves no happy ending. On the surface, the family seems to be happy at their desert hideaway. It is only with the appearance of the handsome stranger does the family start to show their cracks and their unhappiness. There were a few characters I liked but there were many characters that broke my heart especially Melissa, the 13-year-old, middle daughter. It is a book I enjoyed reading as it kept my attention but it is a hard story to recommend. It is not light or easy to read. It is a story where the lines are blurred between heroes and villains. If you enjoy dark, twisted stories, I recommend Desert Flowers. 

Desert Flowers is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook