Slow, slow, slow---for a 300+ page book it seemed like 600+. It takes forever to get to the main 'story' to even know what is going on, the characters are mediocre and really not very interesting, by the time you get to what is going on you almost just don't care anymore but yet you finish it because you're almost to the last page anyway.

As Diana Sheridan heads over to Penny Conley's house after receiving a frantic call from her best friend, a traffic accident on the highway slows her down.

Finally reaching her destination, Diana is stunned to see her friend's house explode, severely burning Penny, and leaving onlookers to wonder at the whereabouts of Penny's daughter. Diana is well aware that if she had arrived on time, she too would have been in the house when it exploded.

After finding five-year-old Willow hiding in the woods, Diana takes her and Penny's elderly neighbor Clarice into her home. Diana lives with her great-uncle Simon Van Etton, the esteemed archeologist, and together they start unraveling the reason someone would want to harm Penny and Willow. Because Penny was Simon's research assistant, she had a special place in his heart, and the tragedy touched the newly knit family to the core.

As Diana and Simon dig into the possible reasons behind the tragedy, they find that Penny was not who they thought she was and that others are also seeking answers. When Diana realizes someone is following her, she is grateful for the unexpected help from a mysterious stranger. However, is he trustworthy or is he also out to destroy her as was her friend?

I usually love most of her books but this one seemed off for her. Like she wasn't that focused when she was writing it. The book starts off with a "bang" literally..an explosion but then it seems to wander for most of the book.

You really don't get most of the clues to the mystery until the last couple of chapters,Which I admit were pretty good. The romantic interest let me down as well. There was no character development between them it sort of felt like.."Hi,I love you"..."Oh Hi,I love you too" to me. Not a totally bad read but definately not one of her best.

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Fortunately it doesn't happen often but when I run across one like this I find myself wondering.....why in the world an author would create an unlikeable heroine. Diana improved some but, for me, it was a case of first impressions being lasting impressions. This was one of those books that I found myself looking to see how much more of it I had to get through until the end. It was readable but certainly not one I was impressed with. This was my first Thompson book and I'm not sure there'll be a second.

I enjoyed the sub-plots more in this story. Yes, I did like the whole book but I liked the behind-the-scenes story better. Diana is a strong, determined woman, Willow is a cute 5 year old and Tyler was ok as far as the "knows what's better for you because he is a man" type that every romance seems to have. I gave this story 4 stars for the suprise effect.

As usual, Thompson is terrific with her unusual plots and characters.

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