The optimism of the early sixties, infused with the excitement of the space race and the menace of the Cold War, is filtered through the rich imagination of high-spirited, eight-year-old Madeleine, who welcomes her family's posting to a quiet Air Force base near the Canadian border. Secure in the love of her beautiful mother, she is unaware that her father, Jack, is caught up in a web of secrets. When a very local murder intersects with global forces, Jack must decide where his loyalties lie, and Madeleine will be forced to learn a lesson about the ambiguity of human morality -- one she will only begin to understand when she carries her quest for the truth, and the killer, into adulthood twenty years later.
The best book I have ever read. (So far) Left me feeling deeply moved and amazed at how one person could possibly put into words so much of life's inexplicable events. Wow, I'm amazed at this author. I have also read her first novel, "Fall on Your Knees" which is tied with the best book I've ever read. This is not a feel good book, so much, but definately worth the tears. Needs to be read!!!
Brandy S. (animlgrl) from LOS ANGELES, CA wrote on 11/7/2007...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
Enjoyed the story, but it could have ended sooner. The story of a family in Canada, there because their dad is in the military. It is about a young girl growing up on the base, and the horrible things that occur there...a murder of a young girl, the search for the killer, and troubles in school. I do enjoy her writing.
RUTH H. (swaptions) from STRASBURG, PA wrote on 10/1/2006...
2 member(s) found this review helpful.
This book was quite an undertaking in the scope of time and level of detail Macdonald aspired to portray, and I think she did an excellent job. The characters are well-drawn and likeable. While the plot drags in spots, it generally advances steadily to the resolution of the central murder mystery as well as to satisfactory information about how most of the main characters ended up later in their lives. If you have a good understanding of Canada's political history and people groups, this book will probably mean even more to you than it did to me.
Christine Marie W. (CowgirlFromHanna) from HANNA, IN wrote on 2/20/2007...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This is another excellent novel by an excellent author...I was sad when I finally reached the end and had to say goodbye to the people in this wonderfully told story
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Lisa R. (Lisa78) from OVERLAND PARK, KS wrote on 11/7/2008...
This book took a while to hook me. The writing was good, but the beginning does drag with lengthy descriptions prior to any major plot developments. I stayed with it, though.
I recommend the book largely because it portrayed a father's dilemma between his duty to country and his duty to humanity in a way that was emotionally wrenching. His and his daughter's inability to speak freely about certain events (for very different reasons) changed the outcome of a murder investigation in a way that caused justice to take a detour.
Be forewarned that there are situations of sexual abuse of young girls in this book. It was certainly not gratuitous and was handled very well by the author, I thought. While I don't normally read novels of that nature, I was able to handle this one. It's disturbing, but in a way that is very central to why the events happened as they did.
Mindy B. (notmork) from SANFORD, FL wrote on 7/20/2008...
Amazing book! Very disturbing.
Sarah L. (rosievermont) from MARLBORO, VT wrote on 4/10/2008...
This story is very dark, but well written and not a predictable plot. Very good!
Nikki W. (mommawolf) from SEATTLE, WA wrote on 2/1/2008...
It took me a little while to get into this book. But once I got into it I was hooked.
Jill S. from MASON CITY, IA wrote on 7/22/2007...
The best book I have ever read. (So far) Left me feeling deeply moved and amazed at how one person could possibly put into words so much of life's inexplicable events. Wow, I'm amazed at this author. I have also read her first novel, "Fall on Your Knees" which is tied with the best book I've ever read. This is not a feel good book, so much, but definately worth the tears. Needs to be read!!!
Mary M. (oldlady) from ARLINGTON, TX wrote on 5/1/2007...
Another book on my "to be kept" shelf (which has too large and must be culled). Has to be at least 4 stars.
Elaine P. from GREEN BROOK, NJ wrote on 3/27/2007...
Rather long, but a really good read. Takes place in the 60's in the family neighborhood of an Air Force base near the Canadian border. A local murder intersects with global forces. The main character is an eight-year old girl, Madelaine.
Ann K. (Funnsun) from BEND, OR wrote on 1/27/2007...
This is a stunning book, a family story with a mystery built in.
Lois N. (Booklover57) from BETHPAGE, NY wrote on 12/29/2006...
It's a big book, but a hard one to put down. Anyone who lived through the 60's and the Cuban Missle Crisis will certainly enjoy this book....but it's also a study in human nature, not just a history lesson!
N. A. from PELLA, IA wrote on 7/5/2006...
The optimism of the early 60s infused with the excitement of the space race and the Cold War. Madeleine (8) and her family live on an airforce base in Canada. Her father is caught up in a web of secrets and she is still searching for a killer into adulthood 20 years later.