When a young woman, a golf prodigy, kills a caddy with a stray ball at the country club, the investigation of this freak accident reveals a dark and shocking tale of secret affairs, predatory men, and a teenager on trial.
A suspenseful chronicle filled with sordid and self-destructive behavior ... The Amateur, rife with Mira’s shrewd character assessments and sharp observations on class distinctions, is a discursive book ... Perhaps Mr. Bohjalian’s most satisfying work.
Bohjalian’s wonderful book is a morality tale, a snapshot of a strange, careless time in a particular slice of America, a psychological exploration of guilt and its repercussions, a portrait of a girl going off the rails — and then, because of an exciting plot twist, a courtroom drama.
[A] page-turner ... Unputdownable ... Bohjalianites will be expecting late-breaking reveals and a big, juicy 11th-hour plot twist. In this regard, and in terms of tying up loose ends and longterm outcomes, The Amateur is actually quite masterful.
