Brother

Brother, published in 2015, is Polish American author Ania Ahlborn’s sixth novel. Ahlborn has published several other thrillers, including her debut self-published novel, Seed (2011). Born in Poland, Ahlborn earned her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of New Mexico and currently lives in Portland, Oregon. Brother, set in 1981, focuses on a brutal, murderous family in the West Virginia Appalachian region. The work explores themes including The Powerful Influence of Family, The Difference Between Loyalty and Complicity, and The Cyclical Nature of Trauma.

This guide is based on the 2015 Gallery Books e-book edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature depictions of bullying, sexual violence, rape, child abuse, child sexual abuse, child death, animal cruelty, animal death, mental illness, addiction, graphic violence, sexual content, cursing, death, physical abuse, and emotional abuse.

Plot Summary

The Morrows live in the Appalachian region of West Virginia in 1981. Their home is an isolated farmhouse that once belonged to Grandma Jean and Grandpa Eugene, the abusive parents of Momma (Claudine Morrow). Now, protagonist and youngest son Michael lives there with his family: Momma, the father Wade Morrow, oldest sister Lauralynn, oldest brother Reb (short for Rebel; his real name is Ray), and younger sister Misty Dawn. 

Reb and Lauralynn are close. Afraid that Lauralynn will abandon him and pursue her dream of becoming a teacher and veterinarian, Reb convinces Wade to steal Michael and adopt him so Lauralynn has a child to teach. Reb’s plan backfires: Lauralynn and Michael become close, and Wade even starts favoring Michael. Reb steals fireworks and tries to kill Michael with them, but Wade interferes and beats Reb as a punishment. 

Wade gives Michael a child’s rifle. After a period of shooting success, Michael has a slump until he shoots Lauralynn’s beloved rabbits. Reb sees Michael killing the rabbits but doesn’t stop him because he feels like Lauralynn abandoned him. Lauralynn blames Momma, who brutally assaults her daughter before allegedly sending her to live with the predatory grandparents. However, Reb witnesses what really occurred: Wade and Momma killed her.

Over time, Reb manipulates Michael to gain his obedience. He tells Michael that his first family didn’t want him, and if it weren’t for the Morrows, animals would’ve eaten him in the woods. Reb is addicted to alcohol and forces Michael to steal it for him. Michael becomes close with Misty, who spends most of her time listening to records in her room. 

The family members serve Momma, who wants young women to torture and kill. Michael and Reb abduct them, and Momma usually stabs them before Michael dissects them in the basement. Momma turns some of the body parts into food that she serves for dinner.

The Morrows live near the small town of Dahlia, and Reb forces Michael to drive with him into downtown Daliah. They visit the Dervish record store, where Reb has sex with one of the employees, Lucy Liddle, in the storage room. Michael quickly develops a crush on another employee, Alice Rasmussen. Alice tells him that her father died in a mining accident and her mother, Bonnie Rasmussen, has depression, and they don’t have a relationship. Alice wants to create comics and live in New York City. She prompts Michael to think about leaving his family.

Alice, Lucy, Michael, and Reb see the horror film The Shining together. Later, Michael takes Alice to McDonald’s, where they kiss. For his birthday, Alice gives Michael a booklet of comics about their relationship. Michael starts to depict his violent reality and tranquil wishes in comics. 

Misty is jealous of Michael’s relative freedom and his relationship with Alice. She tries to have sex with Michael. Reb walks in and beats Michael and Misty. He tells Momma that Misty is a “whore.” Misty dares Momma to kill her, and Momma does. Instead of dissecting Misty, Michael buries her in her favorite hill.

Reb drives Michael to their latest “mark”—an older woman who lives in a peaceful home with green shutters. The age confuses Michael, as Momma likes younger women. Reb says they have the right person. Reb rapes her, and after Momma kills her, Michael dissects her in the basement.

Reb throws a surprise birthday party for Michael. Alice and Lucy are there as captives. He forces Michael to stab Lucy to reaffirm his loyalty to the Morrows and keep Alice alive. Reb then gives Michael his “real” birthday present—his car keys and a picture of the house with the green shutters. Michael drives to the house and inspects the photos. He realizes the older woman was Bonnie, Alice’s mother, and Alice is his sister. Distraught but determined, Michael drives back to the farmhouse and kills his parents with an axe.

In the Morrows’ storm cellar, Michael confronts Reb, who claims he constructed the complex, year-long plan to get revenge for Lauralynn’s death. Reb stabs Alice in the stomach, and after a struggle, Michael kills Reb. Michael tries to help Alice, but she no longer trusts Michael and kills him. As he dies, Michael hopes Alice will survive, but she needs the keys to the car, and the keys are in Michael’s pocket.