Invisible Sun opens with Ian revisiting the traumatic scene where he discovered his brother Hugo, who had taken his own life. The room is still stained with blood, and Ian is engulfed by a torrent of emotions—pain, guilt, anger, and sorrow. In addition to grappling with this emotional turmoil, Ian is burdened with the practical responsibilities of arranging for cleaners, claiming Hugo's body at the morgue, and packing up the family home. Amid this chaos, he is haunted by the relentless question of why this tragedy occurred. In stark contrast, his brother Chadwick adopts a façade of nonchalance, using alcohol to numb his emotions while projecting an outward image of a “cool guy.”

Beneath the surface, the novel delves into the intricate dynamics among these three brothers, shaped by a shared history of abuse and control imposed by their tyrannical father. Hugo was the first to break free from their father's oppressive grip, followed by Chadwick, who sought refuge in Los Angeles, hoping for a fresh start. Ian, the youngest, attempted to escape through academia and travel but remained ensnared by their father's influence. As Ian grapples with the aftermath of Hugo's actions, their father piles blame on him, exacerbating his already overwhelming emotional burden. This tangled web of familial trauma forms the emotional core of the narrative, inviting readers to empathize with their painful struggles.

Invisible Sun unflinchingly navigates the complexities of loss, guilt, and despair, which could prove emotionally taxing for some individuals in certain situations. Nonetheless, these weighty themes provide valuable insights into the multifaceted personalities of the characters within the narrative. The novel skillfully observes the convergence of philosophy, emotions, and the human psyche when confronted with death, encapsulated in the haunting notion that, “The dead have it easy; they don't have to live with the guilt.”

One intriguing aspect of this book lies in its infusion of intellectual depth and occasional whimsy to enrich character dynamics. The story features captivating dialogues that introduce a philosophical dimension to various relationships. The author even employs unique word choice—I’m looking at you, “glossolalia!”—to provide occasional respite from the prevailing heaviness, diverting our attention instead to the distinctive personalities rather than the oppressive events. In the end, Invisible Sun emerges as a captivating and evocative exploration of the complexities of grief and the enduring impact of trauma. It’s a poignant and thought-provoking read for those willing to confront its weighty subject matter.

Invisible Sun by Andrew H. Housley is a starkly dark look at suicide and its effects on those left behind. Brothers Ian and Chadwick are reunited after many years apart, in the city of New Orleans, for the awful task of tidying up the affairs of their other brother, who had taken his own life by blowing his brains out. For Ian, it was doubly traumatic as he had arrived at his brother’s house just minutes after the suicide and had held Hugo’s body in his arms as he died. All three boys had grown up under a domineering, authoritarian, and brutal father who was quick to administer corporal punishment on them for even the slightest perception of misbehavior or lack of fealty to their father’s Catholic religion. Tortured by their childhood and torn by the loss of Hugo, Ian and Chadwick have very different ways of dealing with their grief but somehow they must find the common ground that will allow them to conquer their grief as well as still deal with the demands and constant ridicule of their father.

Invisible Sun is a tough read and I mean that in the very best possible way. Andrew H. Housley's novel stretches the bounds of politeness and forces readers to face some incredibly harsh and often brutal thoughts, emotions, and outcomes. Suicide is never an easy topic to write about but the author achieves the fine balance between the horror of the act and the understanding of the motives behind it. Ian and Chadwick, as brothers, were wonderfully defined and so very different in the way they had dealt with both their father’s casually cruel brutality in the past and Hugo’s seemingly senseless and painful death. The author cleverly uses the conflict between the two boys to peel away the politeness of societal response to any death and examine closely and with real rawness the emotions and pain that those left behind after a suicide are invariably required to deal with and recover from. I particularly appreciated the conundrum faced by Ian as he sought answers to his own continued existence following the death of the brother he had idolized all his life. This is an emotional and heartrending tale that I learned from and I can highly recommend it.

A time-leaping portrait of grief and fraternal connection, Invisible Sun by Andrew H. Housley probes deep into the unique scars and stains left by those we love, particularly when they make the tragic choice to leave this life. Ian and Chadwick, still reeling in their own ways from the sudden death of their brother, must navigate haunted memories, strained bonds, and painful past choices as they make his final arrangements. Authentic and revealing in its emotional depth and sensitive approach to the subject matter, this is a powerful, soul-baring novel that will be intimately relatable to readers whose lives have been touched by loss.