The plot ostensibly revolves around the brutal murder of Ruth Lennox, apparently an epitome of virtue and all things a mother and ''ordinary housewife'' should be. The question is asked in the book, ''Who would want to kill the loving mother of three?''.
Be warned, several complicated themes run through this book, not the least being the role of psychotherapist Frieda Klein and her sometimes troubled relationship with police officers, a retired journalist, family members and a man who is in love with her, although she is usually too busy to respond.
French paints Klein as a psychotherapist with personality flaws many will recognise in those trained to help others through their moments of need. She is hard to like, but you want to like her as she struggles with housing a niece who is friends with Ted, the boy whose mother was murdered.
Klein is also set up by a competitor for the attention of police, along with some of her colleagues. Then she starts to hunt down the person who dreamed of cutting her father's throat with scissors being used to cut his hair. Revenge dominates many of the characters.
Complicated? Yes, but a fine read. This is not a book a reader can pick up and put down quickly as it is best read a few chapters at a time to keep up with the characters. French develops them in quite a troubling manner, but that makes them seem real.
- Dene Mackenzie is ODT business and political editor.
