Fifteen Thousand Pieces is a comprehensive study of both the September 1998 crash of Swissair Flight 111 near Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia and the complex, troubled Chief Medical Examiner, John C. Butt, who oversaw the identification of all 229 passengers who’d been killed. Chapters alternate between the details of the disaster and investigation (which was done in tense coordination with the RCMP) and the story of Dr. Butt’s life. Woolsey suggests that the medical examiner’s problematic—perfectionistic and controlling—leadership style was intimately and directly related to the repression of his sexual orientation. Having a traditional marriage—a wife and children—was central to being a successful professional male, even in the latter part of the twentieth century. Butt did marry—very unhappily— and had an unfulfilling turmoil-ridden family life. (It wasn’t easy on his wife and daughters either.) In the early 1990s, when this prominent forensic pathologist built the medical examiner system in Alberta, Canada, a person’s sexual orientation could be cause for dismissal from a job. Kim Campbell, Canada’s federal justice minister at the time, was instrumental in having sexual orientation written into the Canadian Human Rights Act. Until that was done, Woolsey makes clear, the wisest move for any ambitious professional was to keep mum.

Woolsey’s book covers multiple aspects of the Swissair disaster. Readers who are curious about how mass-casualty events are managed will find much of value here. Likewise, those interested in the psychological cost of denying, tamping down, one’s most essential self will find the text compelling. Woolsey has capably and honestly presented Dr. Butt, her subject, warts and all. The book is far from hagiographic. Butt gained considerable media attention for his compassion and sensitivity during the disaster, but the author makes it clear that he was a heavy-handed taskmaster who had difficulty retaining staff.

While I acknowledge the strengths of Woolsey’s account of the crash, the investigation, and Butt’s life, I feel her book could have done with a good trim. Details about Butt’s high-end Vancouver condo and fancy eightieth birthday party in a British Columbia resort town, for example, felt like unnecessary padding. Some metaphors are notably strained, and the prose is occasionally clichéd.

I’d like to thank Net Galley and the publisher for an early review copy.

Rating: 3.5 rounded down

"Fifteen Thousand Pieces" by Gina Leola Woolsey is an emotional rollercoaster that tugs at your heartstrings from start to finish. Woolsey weaves a poignant narrative that explores the complexities of love, loss, and the indomitable human spirit. The story follows the protagonist, Lily, as she navigates the shattered pieces of her life after a devastating tragedy.

Woolsey's writing is both tender and powerful, capturing the raw essence of grief and the gradual process of healing. The characters are beautifully crafted, each carrying their own burdens and contributing to the mosaic of Lily's journey. The author's ability to delve into the depths of human emotion is truly commendable.

What sets this novel apart is its authentic portrayal of resilience and the transformative power of love. Woolsey doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of pain but manages to infuse hope into the narrative. "Fifteen Thousand Pieces" is a testament to the strength found in vulnerability and the importance of picking up the fragments of our lives, one piece at a time.

In this soul-stirring debut, Gina Leola Woolsey delivers a story that lingers, leaving readers with a profound sense of empathy and a renewed appreciation for the fragility of life.

I was not sure what to expect from this story; part biography of a minor Canadian medical celebrity, part coming out story, part harrowing disaster tale. I was really impressed. The overall pacing made it feel like a thriller despite being non-fiction. I couldn't put it down, invested in both the crash and its aftermath, and the complicated life of this doctor turned bureaucrat, an unlikely topic for a page turner. The author is thorough in her process of delving into his life so that his narrative is well balanced with the perception of others. There is a wonderful tension in the chapters about the aftermath of the crash that propels the story forward. I really enjoyed it. The cover though from my perspective lets it down. I can see it getting passed over in my library without me bringing attention to it.