Uneven but quite clever ... Some storylines sag a bit before regaining a narrative foothold, and others that initially seem important simply fade into the background ... In a book with supple writing throughout, this writer also evokes the state’s climate and its landscape in singular ways ... It’s a credit to Braunstein’s craft that this tale, filled with incisive observations and often amusingly unflattering revelations about a few primary players, is also leavened with tenderness. With Maeve as teller of this tale, Braunstein plants just enough seeds of doubt, prompting you to frequently reconsider the actions of other characters as well. This makes for a slightly off-balance read, in quite an energizing way.
