[A] powder keg of a dynamic is the backdrop to Lynn Steger Strong’s latest novel ... The mysteries of what’s really going on with each sibling, and whether they can find a way to be a family again...adds propulsion, acting as a foil to the muggy daze of Florida heat and the suspended-in-animation feeling of grief imbued in the story.
The novel weaves in so many side characters and moving parts that it’s sometimes challenging to keep the story straight. That said, Steger Strong’s writing is superb ... A slow-burn family drama that offers great writing and interesting characters, and even a relevant environmental message. But the overwrought storyline left me feeling adrift and looking for a life jacket.
Every one of the many characters, including the dead mother, has backstories and subplots and friends and associates. Threaded through it all is bad news about the Floridian landscape and climate that plays little role in the plot. An abundance of good writing and interesting storylines and environmental information, but not much to tie it together.
Remarkable ... Not only does the story yield a fascinating meditation on the nature of fiction, but it exhibits profound empathy for each of the characters. This is Strong’s best yet.
