The character work here is great. Both Meggie and Sabine feel honest and authentic. The story of Meggie's obsession is less effective, mostly because it ultimately feels underwhelming by the time the book ends. However, within that feeling is Ladner's point -- and I can't fault the book for successfully making its point, even if that didn't work for me as a reader.

Ladner's prose is wonderful, too -- a mix of lyricism and page-turning suspense. ( )