i will never understand why rendell doesn't have a bigger following in this country. her characters are so much better drawn than anything found in a john grisham novel, and she's no slouch with a plot, either. in this book, she creates one of the most compelling mother/daughter relationships i've ever read, and the character of liza has stayed with me since i first read the book in 1994. everyone out there reading grisham, turow and cornwell, please, please read one rendell book.....you won't believe the difference!'