A variety of first person narrators, including a dead man,
tie this novel together in an intimate way. These narrators are all very candid, but,
particularly in one case, the author cleverly chooses that narrator’s words in
order to mislead the reader. The most
prominent character is Nora, a musician who returns home to the Mohave Desert
after her father dies in a hit-and-run that may or may not have been an
accident. Nora feels certain that her
father, a successful business owner, was murdered, given that he was Moroccan
and his donut shop was torched after 9/11.
Even after the alleged driver confesses, his intent remains murky, and
proving vehicular homicide is problematic.
An undocumented man actually witnessed the accident but is fearful about
coming forward and exposing his immigration status. Nora’s family, however, remains the focal
point, as surprising secrets about Nora’s father and sister surface but are not
always shared with those who might benefit from such information. The chinks in the armor of these two
characters lend suspense to the storyline, as does at least one character with
anger management issues. I would have
liked a chapter from Beatrice, a mysterious character that remains mysterious,
and perhaps she remains in the shadows to retain that elusiveness. Nora, puzzling over an unexpected inheritance
from her father, strikes up a relationship with Jeremy, a cop who seems to be a
bad fit for her but who ultimately helps her find her way through her grief. This pair is the heart and soul of this
novel, and I so wanted them to find a path to a future together.
1 comment:
I liked this book. Weel worth the read.
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