It is a murder mystery, actually, as is any book that starts with a homicide and ends by revealing the culprit. But it is also an emotionally intense study of how a transcendent love becomes a fraying marriage, buckling under the weight of financial troubles, early parenthood, Brett’s frustration at having no time to work on her research, and Charlie…just being Charlie. By the time crazy ol’ Eli shows up for an unwanted visit, setting in motion the events of the horrible day, the couple and their baby are living in a ramshackle beach house borrowed from the brothers’ dad. Eli is in the yard freaking out when Brett arrives and finds the body, then he runs. He must have done it, right?
A fine literary whodunit from an accomplished storyteller.