When reading the back jacket of the novel, I knew that this mystery novel was right for me. While I have not read mystery novels in awhile, I do find them enjoyable because I find that some of them can be very suspenseful and thought provoking. Having a inexplicable disappearance and a possible killer are two aspects of the novel that led me to believe that this novel was a mystery worth reading. And, sure enough, I was satisfied in the end with how the book turned out.
Jess Kostner is a district attorney who has dealt with many tribulations in both her personal and work life. First, she had dealt with a divorce from her husband, Don, and then the disappearance of her mom. Every day at work, Jess "always checked the obituaries....she wasn't sure when she'd started making the obituaries part of her regular morning routine, and she wasn't sure why. It was an unusual habit for someone barely thirty years old....was she searching for her mother, as her ex-husband had once suggested? Or was it her own name she somehow expected to see?" Thus, the reader gathers the impression that the disappearance of her mother has left Jess to a certain extent very emotionally distraught, which may be the cause of her constant obsession with death. Her search to find more information about her mother's disappearance has left Jess worrying about her own future. Throughout the novel, Jess is very weary of a man named Rick Ferguson, who is being persecuted for rape. He is accused of attacking a women named Connie DeVuono, but the evidence of the attack is insufficient. Convinced that Rick is going to kill her, Connie becomes very terrified of testifying in court. However, one day Jess describes her ex husband, who she constantly has an on off relationship with, how she "saw a white car waiting outside her apartment." Thus, could Jess' life be at stake? Was Rick responsible for her mother's disappearance? What ever happened to Connie DeVuono, the women he supposedly raped? All these questions and more are described in detail that will leave you at the edge of your seat....
Fieldings' writing style is one that I find very appropriator for writing mysteries. She writes with such detail and insight that the reader feels as if this event is taking place in present day. It is interesting how Fielding used the technique of third person to tell the story. In this novel, I think that the story being told in a third person narrative is the best because it allows for the reader to not become overly attached to the main characters, but at the same time still get enough insight on the character. Fieldings' word choice is also something that I find shows her strength as a mystery writer because she is able to describe events using words that make the reader alert of a suspenseful and climatic moment in the text. While some readers may argue that they would rather have climatic moments done in a spontaneous method, I feel that explicitly alerting the reader of a climatic moment demonstrates a strength as a writer because it shows that Fielding is able to switch from the emotional and personal side of Jess to the one that is in a desperate situation. This constant shift of varying emotions allows for the reader to hold interest in the novel and to enjoy the reading process.
Overall, I felt that the pacing of the novel fit the requirement of a mystery novel. While some moments you want to be fast paced and rushed, I find that with a mystery there are certain elements of the plot that a writer might want to emphasize in order for the reader to pick up on foreshadowing techniques. Thus, I find that the pacing was not overly fast, but it was not slow where moments were supposed to pick up in intensity. Thus, if you are a reader that enjoys a shift in pace, this book may be for you.
I would also recommend this book to readers who enjoy plot oriented books over character description and for those who enjoy an incredible thriller. Be prepared--this book will leave you with a true out of your seat experience.
