Marianne_M

The author, a journalist and contributor to The New Yorker, has written a masterful account of the murders of Paul and Maggie Murdough, son and wife of Alex Murdough, who was ultimately convicted of their murders. The book was hard to put down, and I was engrossed in the details of small town South Carolina where Alex was an attorney whose family had deep generational roots in the legal profession, exercising their privilege in a variety of questionable ways. The author does a wonderful job recounting the atmosphere of this southern enclave, and presents a clear portrait of the entanglements, deceit and relationships that drove Alex to be charged and convicted of the crime. By presenting the material from his personal perspective, the author creates a deep, engaging tale of true crime, examining theories of motivation and psychopathy. I highly recommend this book.

This is a puzzling read. The author is a very good writer and the chapters describing Evelyn's childhood are very authentic. I loved the beginning and ending chapters of the novel but struggled with the middle. The timeframe is unclear and leaves you guessing. It takes place in two settings - the United States – primarily the Midwest and Northwest - but also in Tibet and Nepal. It might be helpful for the reader to know something about Buddhism and the role it plays in those cultures. I didn't find the Tibetan setting or story as compelling. The two main characters, Evelyn in the Midwest, and Tsering in Tibet, are leading very different lives; you find out in the ending chapters what ties their lives together. I would have been happy just following Evelyn's life.

It might be a good book club pick because there are interesting themes/discussion points.

This is a terrific "five star" read that weaves historical fiction and magic realism to vividly tell a Dust Bowl era story. The author has a vivid imagination and creates a compelling story. She creates well-drawn and in-depth characters that readers will care about. Days after finishing the book I am still thinking about it and marvel at how masterfully the author interlaced different facets of the history of the United States.