Jake Buckman is a successful financial planner, owner of his own business, married to a judge, and father of a 16-year-old basketball star. But life hasn't been a bed of roses. Jake started his business because he had been laid off and unsuccessful at landing a new job. Years of uncertainty, then hard work and long hours, left his relationship with his wife and son sorely lacking. Trying to be "Fun Dad" Jake gives in to Ryan's pleadings to let him drive the fancy Audi on a winding back road on the way home from the movies. There's a thump, Ryan stops the car, and Jake gets out to discover a jogger dead by the side of the road. Oh, what to do? Ryan shouldn't have been driving, Jake shouldn't have let him, both are at fault, but Ryan stands to lose a chance to play Division I basketball. Fun Dad will tell the police that he was driving, but just as he get out his cell phone to call in the accident, Ryan pulls out a baggie of marijuana. Change of plans. They agree to keep quiet about the entire incident. End of chapter 2, page 16.
For the next 27 chapters (disclaimer: Scottoline writes pretty short chapters, it's 186 pages) the reader slogs through pages of Ryan whining, Jake trying to cover things up, lies told to the increasingly-suspicious wife/mom, and the complication that the judge is newly being considered for a federal appointment, which means the entire family will be interviewed by the FBI. And then Jake receives a blackmail threat.
The pace of the story picks up, pieces start to connect and the resolution comes along maybe a little too neatly.
There are several elements that I thought stretched credibility. The idea was interesting but the execution was not as good as I expect from this author. I really enjoyed her books about Rosato and Associates. Scottoline is a lawyer and knows that world well. Her more recent ventures outside the legal system seem a little out of touch with how an average person in such a situation would act.
No comments:
Post a Comment