First, if you are not familiar with the facts of this case, and prefer to have the story unfold naturally, do NOT read the publisher’s summary of the book. The summary lays out in precise detail all the twists and turns of the case, leaving nothing for the reader to discover on his or her own. There are, after all, people on this planet who do not tune in to the details of America’s domestic news on a daily basis.
Author Charles Bosworth unwraps the story of the vicious crime, layer by layer, building tension to an almost unbearable level. The clutter of lies, wilful blindness, and sheer evil obscure the circumstances of Betsy’s murder, creating a suspense that is relieved only when the killer is eventually unmasked.
Narration is ok, except for Bennett’s tendency to go skidding from one sentence into the next, completely ignoring the period as a stop sign. Meanwhile, the confused listener loses the thread of the narration while trying to sort out the details of both sentences.