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While the book begins with the murder of Professor Johnny Wharton, the murder itself is almost superfluous to this brilliantly written novel of intrigue that is primarily set in the mid-1980s. It explores the lives of five women. Four of the women are connected to Wharton, while the fifth becomes an integral part of the book later in the story. These four women include the following: Wharton's wife, Liz, who is an accountant and who volunteers at a dog rescue; their estranged and troubled daughter, Jenny; his grad student Jane (with whom he’s having an affair); and his closeted lesbian coworker, Maddie, who he holds in disdain, and who is the lover of Roz, the fifth woman. The book takes readers through the lives of these women, from the joy and beauty of existence to the trials and tribulations of daily life.
In a story of racism, sexism, sexual and physical abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, sexual addiction, suicide, historical trauma, the slave system, homophobia, internalized homophobia, cultural issues, and murder, this book covers the social mores (and lack thereof) of the history of the American past. It also explores the values of friendship, kinship, love, and the college experience. The author takes a microscope to each and every life which engages the reader in the vivid descriptions that surround the landscape of the living and the dying. The use of reminiscence is thoughtful, and the dialogue is masterful. While the content is often disturbing, it is a treasure of cultural understanding. The ending is a story of redemption on numerous levels, and the book leaves the reader wanting to read more from this author.
A 2024 Eric Hoffer Book Award General Fiction Honorable Mention