I found myself offended by this book - initially in a low key way, by the cosy middle classness, the narrow world view, the smallness of the world in which the story takes place, attitudes revealing more about the author than the principal character, the protagonist's shock and astonishment that such a horrific murder could take place where SHE lived seeming childish, silly. Although, in fact, I too had to ask at the end of the book why did such a horrific murder take place at all in this book? What was the point? The book is not a detective story nor is it a ghost story, though it makes aborted moves in both directions. The murder did not push any characters into thoughtful or explosive revelations, apart from the protagonist's humourless ponderings on her marriage. The ultimate crime the author committed was the killing of the protagonist's daughter - a truely cynical move, the plot not demanding or justifying this death, and the scene of the vigil and washing of Rosa's body read as nothing more than a cheap manipulation of the reader. I was moved to pull a face of disgust. A woman's heart is ripped out. A child mysteriously dies - while her mother is spending illicit time with her new lover. Is this all this book is? Another morality tale telling us to stay loyal to our husbands and not rock the boat of cosy middle-classdom?
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