Mystery, intrigue, romance, betrayal....

I didn't know much about the premise of this novel before I began reading, and for some reason I had in my mind that it would fit the form of the standard "ex-love vs. new love" scenario. Boy, was I wrong. This well-written little novel is packed with mystery, intrigue, romance, betrayal and so much more, and all the elements are nicely balanced; Grandy is never heavy-handed, as some mystery and romance novelists tend to be. I love the subtlety of this book; the plot lines flow out evenly, twining around themselves like the movements in a good symphony. And with each new revelation in the plot, the pages turn faster and faster. On several nights consecutively, I stayed up far past my bedtime reading it.

A brief note on the character of Caroline: I liked her. I could never BE her. When she discovers that her unfaithful ex-husband may be trapped in a cave, she feels compelled to push forward a search for him. I'd've left the guy there. But Caroline's personality--consistent throughout the novel--is one of gentle strength and thoroughly considered options. As such, I view her character as a true heroine.

I enjoyed this offering from Libby Grandy very much and look forward to reading more of her work in the future.