Very competent and readable, a page-turner blending three points of views and a complicated timeline.
Not "perfect" (well, nobody is, right?), and there are some plot holes, and character psychology holes, that you could drive a tank through.
But Jewell demonstrates a very assured hand, juggling those POVs, and building a scenario, layer upon layer, where you could almost believe that the characters she has constructed would do what they do.
What I particularly liked was the way the novel bucks standard thriller formula -- from the blurb on the cover, you might well except that bodies (and baby) are discovered on Page 1, and detective (grizzled and grouchy, regardless of gender, with demons of his/her own to contend with) turns up and becomes obsessed with solving the mystery. Jewell doesn't play it like that at all, and you will either love it or hate it.
So, 4 stars for readability, and for effectively ratting the cage of some thriller formulae.
Not "perfect" (well, nobody is, right?), and there are some plot holes, and character psychology holes, that you could drive a tank through.
But Jewell demonstrates a very assured hand, juggling those POVs, and building a scenario, layer upon layer, where you could almost believe that the characters she has constructed would do what they do.
What I particularly liked was the way the novel bucks standard thriller formula -- from the blurb on the cover, you might well except that bodies (and baby) are discovered on Page 1, and detective (grizzled and grouchy, regardless of gender, with demons of his/her own to contend with) turns up and becomes obsessed with solving the mystery. Jewell doesn't play it like that at all, and you will either love it or hate it.
So, 4 stars for readability, and for effectively ratting the cage of some thriller formulae.
