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elbowgrip_and_emdash's review against another edition
4.0
What I appreciated most about this novel, the second now from this author that I've read, is that it subverts a number of expectations that I initially believed it was setting up—expectations that would have made this novel much more conventional and overall less interesting and special. This is not a murder mystery/criminal procedural, despite mimicking the shape throughout part 2; our main character does not enter into the relationship that we begin to suspect can "save" him from the darkness he's found himself trapped in since the death of wife and daughter; and Richard doesn't, by the end, confront the man whose actions resulted in their death (the fact that he doesn't even recognize Bogdan in that brief moment when he finally lays eyes on him? Perfect). It was refreshing to read a novel that surprised me in these. It was, quite frankly, honest to experience. I started to fear by the end that Richard was going to be delivered his opportunity to confront Bodgan (however contrived this opportunity might have been) but I should have trusted the author more, considering how appreciative I'd been of his handling of the conclusion of part 2.
jatridle's review against another edition
4.0
"It seems unlikely that the American journalist saw him long enough to retain an image. But Bogdan knows he did, that someplace on the far side of North America, his otherwise forgettable face is the locus of grief. Tonight, he can feel it more strongly than ever. Somewhere in California he takes center stage in another man's nightmare."
Really nicely drawn characters. Interesting plot. Nothing too flashy. Just a great story with a sort of quiet tension. I liked it a lot.
Really nicely drawn characters. Interesting plot. Nothing too flashy. Just a great story with a sort of quiet tension. I liked it a lot.
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