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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
Not the worst book I've read this year, but not good either. There wasn't one likable character. The author used the same literary gimmick in every chapter: every. single. chapter.
Suspenseful kept me guessing to the end. Love the real characters. Like the way the author goes back and forth between characters and all the different perspectives.
Laura Lippman is a master storyteller who never fails to draw the reader in and keep us highly involved with her full bodied characters. I find Lippman's dialogue gems as intriguing as her well developed plot turns. Each character displays realistic foibles and strengths, leaving us feeling as if we recognize neighbors, relatives and coworkers among them.
The story revolves around the death of a black infant at the hands of two 11-year-old white kids. After spending years in a facility for child criminals, they are released as adults, and shortly, a new, similar crime is uncovered. Every member of the roster of parents, neighbors, kids, journalists, etc., mirrors the sort of racism, greed, self-interest, fear, laziness and pathetic helplessness we see in our daily lives. Lippman is a terrific writer, striking the balance necessary to produce a popular suspense/mystery with higher than average literary quality.
The story revolves around the death of a black infant at the hands of two 11-year-old white kids. After spending years in a facility for child criminals, they are released as adults, and shortly, a new, similar crime is uncovered. Every member of the roster of parents, neighbors, kids, journalists, etc., mirrors the sort of racism, greed, self-interest, fear, laziness and pathetic helplessness we see in our daily lives. Lippman is a terrific writer, striking the balance necessary to produce a popular suspense/mystery with higher than average literary quality.
Lippman is a master. I don't think this is as strong a commentary on parenting as the most recent two Moneghan books, but just about everything else here is wonderful. I'm so glad I have a pile of the non-Moneghan books to work through.
slow-paced
Needing something just to entertain, this story sets up nicely and then slows to a crawl - at least for me - and then just as I was going to put it down - BAM it took off.
This mystery just did not hold my interest. I had a hard time finishing it. Felt like there were too many stories and not enough detail about any of the characters and their motivation.
This is the first book I've read by Lippman, but I couldn't put it down. However, the subject matter is pretty disturbing.
Interesting read and different points of view addressed in this novel. Lots of twists and turns keep you reading