Comment

Community comment are the opinions of contributing users. These comment do not represent the opinions of Okanagan Regional Library.
Nov 15, 2017
When a young Hasidic wife and mother is murdered, a journalist finds herself drawn into the investigation and into the world in which her own mysterious mother was born and raised. Rebekah's mother left the community before giving birth to her daughter, but soon abandoned her husband and child to return to her roots. Rebekah is investigating her own past as much as the murder. I liked the protagonist and the plot. It's an interesting exploration of the tensions between mainstream society and a significant, self-contained group that is within the culture but not really a part of it. Good search for identity and roots themes. Plus it led me to read and learn more about Hasidic Jews in the U.S. I felt there were a confusing number of secondary characters who only appeared for a page or so each, mostly just in time to let the main character sit in their cars and engage in some exposition. Also, a truly perfunctory sex scene and one probably not necessary use of a racial slur (truly, it didn't advance the story, even if it was used to show that the heroine disapproved of it.) These were the things that prompted me to round down on my stars instead of up. Still, the story kept me reading and I did care what was going to happen. There was enough promise in the writing I'll probably read the sequel.