
I have to say that I loved this book! I was surprised at how gripping it was and how involved I became in the handful of moral conundrums it presented to me. The book started off rather sedately but quickly amped up and was rollicking along at a good clip by the end of the first section. There was a lot going on, with multiple levels of intrigue and suspense scattered throughout the careful and tenebrous plot.
The position Gwen got herself into at the beginning of the book is one I think many people will relate to and understand. Gwen is not a bad person or a criminal, yet she takes an unnecessary risk and all hell breaks loose on her. Gwen was easy to sympathize with. A stay-at-home mother and member of the PTA, she didn't expressly invite danger into her life; she only wanted to let her hair down and be able to smoke a bit while she was away on vacation. What happened to Gwen was terrifying because it could happen to anyone. Though her misdeed was slight, the repercussions were life changing and severe. Gwen's happy and ordered existence was left hanging by a thread, and she seemed to make a lot of unwise decisions once this happened.
The plight of Brian's ethical conflict was more restrained, and I felt, a little less successful. Brian had a responsibility to the community in the marketing of his new drug that he swept under the table and shrugged off, posing problems for not only his career but for the unwitting people who began taking his medicine for an off-label use. I liked Brian and found him resourceful and committed to both his work and his family but I didn't understand his decision to hide the things that he did regarding the drug and its uses. Once the seriousness of the problem came to light, Brian redirected himself into doing the right thing, and I was glad for him. Brian and Gwen were both dealing with the same type of problem, only in very different arenas, and through all of it, they remained a unit focused on the outcome, sometimes sacrificing their own morals in order to get to that particular outcome.
Through the book's focus on Jude things began to take a darker turn. He seemed like a moral and upstanding guy, but as I read about him I became aware that Jude was a very shady character. He had various sides to his personality and was a good father, but he erased a lot of that goodness through manipulation and throwing his weight in undesirable directions. The thing is, I liked Jude. I liked his charm and his edginess, and I wanted so much for him to do the right thing and make a clean break from this kind of life. I think Jude wanted that too but was swept away by greed and the kinds of relationships that it can be sticky to get out of. Jude had a good heart, but his perception of right and wrong was very skewed, and this kept me in turmoil while reading about him. He was obviously a man with demons, but there existed in Jude a lot of benevolence and altruism. His was a case of a good man doing very bad things for a convincing reason, but that reason just wasn't convincing enough for me, so I was constantly at war with myself about my reactions to him.
This book presents a lot of tough questions for the reader to puzzle out for themselves. What happens when a good person does something illegal? What happens when this same action is done by someone with more sinister leanings? Is there really any distinction between the two? This book made me look at some familiar situations in a new way and made me wonder just what my friends and neighbors could be hiding behind closed doors. It made me wonder about the stringency of the law and the unintended repercussions that could take place when people try to creep over the edge of it. Mostly, it made me think about the unpredictability of life and the way that one action can change everything and leave you an outcast in the community that once respected and valued you.
Though I didn't expect it, this book really crept up on me and kept me avidly turning the pages until its explosive conclusion. It's really a much deeper story than I had first believed and has given me a lot of food for thought. It also started a lot of conversations in my house about the ideas that it so eloquently expresses. I think this book is a must for those who love psychological suspense novels as well as those who like quiet thrillers, and I am so glad to have gotten the chance to devour it. A complex and thought provoking read. Recommended.
This book was provided as a complimentary review copy.
15 comments:
Wow, that sounds like a great book! I'll have to pull it out of my TBR pile. When I read books like that I drive everyone crazy talking about it and wanting to discuss the moral issues it brings up. Great review!
sounds like a book i'd have a hard time with; she IS a criminal, at least from the bare-bones facts you describe and I don't know how much sympathy for her! if her husband works for a pharma company you'd think she could get a legal high, LOL.
Excellent, excellent review, Zibilee. Because marijuana is still an illegal drug, the mistake of even dabbling in something inextricably connected to the underworld here seems to lead to all kinds of misery and moral dilemmas in this book, which sounds quite riveting.
I love the sound of this book!! What a great write up as well! And yes, a great question -- what happens when a good person does something bad? I must read this book to find out!
Great review! I've not heard of this book, but it sounds like one of those books that teaches a good lesson. I know plenty of people that dabble in things illegal. One slip and everything can go to hell, and this serves as a good reminder.
Ooooh I love this kind of stuff. Definitely sounds like something I'd enjoy reading. I love the gray areas and being forced to think about them.
Wow sounds great! Sounds like it was a good book to make you think too. I love those typically. My hubby read this and reviewed it on my blog, though, and he didn't care for it as much. It's possible he didn't pick up on or think much about those underlying issues though. I still have the ARC... I say I'll try to get to it but I have no clue if that's going to happen, lol! Sounds like a good book club read though.
Sounds interesting. I've run across the title but haven't really sat down to read it, yet. I think I'll have to give it a second look, now; thanks for the thoughtful review. :O)
It does sound like it raises a lot of questions to think about and ponder. And this is exactly why my husband is so adamant about never doing anything illegal. (Not that I am advocating to do something illegal or anything like that.) It just takes one time for everything to go to hell in a handbasket.
This sounds like such an interesting read. I'm adding this to my TBR pile!
Sounds gripping all right! I was on the edge of my seat even whilst reading the review (specially when it came to Brian and Jude's part!)
What an interesting book. It sounds like it raises a lot of interesting questions. Great review.
I love your second to last paragraph, about all the things the book made you think about. It sounds like the story poses plenty of difficult and interesting questions.
Bleh, this is why I'm scared of doing the tiniest little illegal thing (like smoking pot one time just to see). If that were the one time I got caught, it would be so terrible! *shudder*
Oo! This does sound good! I love books like this--high in emotion and on the edge of moral quandaries. Thank you for your great review, Heather.
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