by Alex Kava – This, the 3rd Maggie O’Dell novel, is such an engaging read. It centers around a religious cult and a string of murders that seem to follow the cult followers. Maggie’s alcoholic mother has been in recovery, thanks to three very special friends, whom we find out in this book are part of the cult and have been drawing her further into the group’s inner workings, putting her life in peril. Kava began this subplot subtly in book two, laying a seemingly innocuous foundation there for one of the emotional clinchpins of this novel. The twists and turns are captivating, the characters (as always) well-drawn and believable, and the ending is terrific. Highly recommended. (finished 6/20/2011)
* This was my second time reading this novel, and this review is for this most recent reading. (I didn’t write a review the first time, although I do remember liking it very much then, too.) The first time was in 2006 and since then I’ve read hundreds of other books, so the story still managed to surprise me. I love it when that happens!
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