I always wonder what it must be like to be close to someone under suspicion or investigation for a heinous crime. First there must be the shock of it all, the constant news cycle and the glare of publicity. At some point though, questions must arise, and as the investigation continues you must feel completely out of control and at some point there must be a growing fear that you must have missed some signs along the way.

Jean Taylor’s husband has died in a tragic accident. Although she is devastated by his death, in some ways it is a relief as he was suspected of  kidnapping of a little girl. Although he was investigated, in the end because of police misconduct and lack of evidence Glen was released. But it was impossible to get back to normal life as the suspicions raised by the  sensational news coverage of the investigation cast a pall over Glen wherever he went. For Jean, who stood by him and vouched for him, it was a trying time. Now maybe with his death she can regain her anonymity and a normal life again.

But for Kate Waters, a journalist and DI Bob Sparkes the case of the missing little girl is still not over. It always seemed that Glen’s widow, Jean, knew more about what happened then she ever revealed. With Glen gone, they believe they have another chance to find out what happened.

Seemingly ripped from the headlines of today’s news, Barton explores the complicated dynamics when you are married to a person accused of kidnapping and murder. Told from the alternating perspectives of the widow, the journalist and the detective, we slowly see the destructive impact such accusations can have on a marriage, the race to get the interview no matter what the cost and the urgency with which the police conduct such an investigation, even if it means taking short cuts that they may later regret.

Brenda’s Rating: ****(4 Out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this Book to: Sharon, Marian and Keith

Book Study Worthy? Yes

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