This book is fun to read -although the plot revolves around events that are not lighthearted fun- as the characters’ behavior reveal how thin the facade of decency can be. Readers will be kept guessing as to who-dunnit. However, this is not an ordinary crime story or a simple police investigation plot but rather is a large assortment of flawed behavior all very tightly linked together into a modern American character study and social commentary. LORD OF THE FLIES meets PEYTON PLACE in Stephen Amidon’s novel.
The contemporary setting is a supposedly idyllic American suburb, near enough to East coast big cities for the financially secure families to have theater-getaway weekends. Good schools, nice yards, moms who lunch but beneath the perfect exterior there are inebriated parents, unhappy parents who are sticking it out because of the pre-nuptials, parents with sketchy pasts, frustrated step-parents, sad widowers and merry widows, drug-using teens who behave badly, an obnoxious cop who seems to enjoy his power over the wealthy residents in his jurisdiction. Topping it all off, a teenager has been murdered. Since people of all ages are awake and away from their homes at all hours in this "safe" community, it is difficult to predict who is innocent and who might be guilty.
At the same time, the author successfully conveys the heartbreak and anguish of a child's drug addiction as well as adults fooling themselves that they function normally with alcohol.
Since there are quite a few characters, finish reading LOCUST LANE before you start another book. You will want to keep track of which teenagers go with which parents. The chapters are divided by morning/evening of the days of the week with subdivisions of various characters' actions in multiple settings. Once the majority of the families have been introduced, the drama increases, and that is a plus point which helped to raise this reviewer's final rating.
The contemporary setting is a supposedly idyllic American suburb, near enough to East coast big cities for the financially secure families to have theater-getaway weekends. Good schools, nice yards, moms who lunch but beneath the perfect exterior there are inebriated parents, unhappy parents who are sticking it out because of the pre-nuptials, parents with sketchy pasts, frustrated step-parents, sad widowers and merry widows, drug-using teens who behave badly, an obnoxious cop who seems to enjoy his power over the wealthy residents in his jurisdiction. Topping it all off, a teenager has been murdered. Since people of all ages are awake and away from their homes at all hours in this "safe" community, it is difficult to predict who is innocent and who might be guilty.
At the same time, the author successfully conveys the heartbreak and anguish of a child's drug addiction as well as adults fooling themselves that they function normally with alcohol.
Since there are quite a few characters, finish reading LOCUST LANE before you start another book. You will want to keep track of which teenagers go with which parents. The chapters are divided by morning/evening of the days of the week with subdivisions of various characters' actions in multiple settings. Once the majority of the families have been introduced, the drama increases, and that is a plus point which helped to raise this reviewer's final rating.