is happily married, has a young son who she manages to spend time with while working full-time and is good at her job. It’s an intriguing set-up, allowing for some exploration of themes including abuse, grief and family. To make matters even more complicated, when news of the murder is televised, Flora recognises Conrad as an associate of the man who kidnapped and serially raped her. recognises Evie from one of her first cases as a police officer, when Evie was a teenager who had accidentally shot and killed her father (or had she?). She takes the gun from his lap and fires it, and seconds later is found by the police still holding the gun, which makes it hard for them to believe her statement that she didn’t kill Conrad. The book opens with Evie arriving home to find her husband Conrad dead. Warren, who is a recurring character of Gardner’s and Flora, who is a survivor of a past crime turned police informant and victim-support worker. The chapters alternate between three characters: the prime suspect, Evie, a high-school teacher pregnant with her first child the lead detective, D.D. The leads are all women and they’re not all broken and/or alcoholics – particularly not the police professionals, which was refreshing. If you’re interested in my specific objection, read beyond the spoiler warning below.įor the most part, I liked the characters and the set-up of the crime.

So I can’t in honesty recommend this book. It worked on that level, but it definitely has flaws, primarily that I found the conclusion offensive. I picked up this crime novel in need of an engrossing, compelling read to get me back into reading.

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