MixedThe Dallas Morning NewsSchmidt creates a world in which nearly every character seems driven to the brink of homicidal madness by the oppressive proximity of the others ... The intention behind illuminating these cross-cutting resentments must have been to create a cat's cradle of suspense, in which any character might be the one to snap. But something like the opposite effect seems to happen on the page. By making almost every character seem capable of ax murder — and almost every character seem at least a little bit worthy of it — the novel blunts the singularity and mystery of the event itself. Instead of drawing its energy from the question How could this have happened?, the novel seems to revolve around the premise How could it not have? ... That said, Schmidt is undeniably a fine writer. She has a wonderful ear for the linguistic tics of inner monologues; Lizzie's is cut with a singsongy echolalia that's simultaneously true-feeling and extremely strange. Bridget's voice is a spirited and affecting breath of fresh air.
