ISBN: 1-4025-5656-X Order from: Recorded Books
Melodramatic but nonetheless satisfying tale of growth, and solving mysteries old and new.
Reviewed by David on October 24, 2004
Genre: Mystery
Synopsis: Amy Steadman is a fortunate woman. Always well-off, her elderly grandmother's death left her the controlling interest in the successful family company. However, her happiness is alloyed with doubts: her exasperating relationship with her siblings, growing distance from her beloved husband, and sadness about her grandmother's murder during a burglary. Perhaps the deepest source of Amy's unhappiness is the haunting problem of her mother's suicide when Amy was very young.
In an uncharacteristic act of rebellion, Amy decides to go to North Carolina, to dispose of her grandmother's house, to clear her mind and to find more traces of her mother's life. Alas, her visit brings more quesions than answers, including the puzzles of the deaths of both her grandmother and her mother.
Full Review: At times melodramatic, the narrative still maintains enough plausibility to keep up the reader's interest. Amy herself is an interesting viewpoint character—frustratingly passive and vacillating in the beginning, but growing stronger as the book progresses. The surrounding characters are well drawn, and the twisty plot keeps one guessing until the end.
While not a classical detective story, at least one crime is solved in the traditional way, and the blend of interpersonal drama and detection works to provide a satisfying reading experience.
Overall: 6; Plot: 5.5; Characters: 6; Style: 5.5; World-building: 6; Originality: 5.5;
Copyright date 2003, Recorded Books, 2003, Audio cassette, 7 cassettes
ISBN: 1-4025-5656-X Order from: Recorded Books