I had selected this book to read based on recommendations of several friends. It was one of the most difficult books I have read. (Difficult in that I kept saying to myself, Why are you reading this?) To much time was spent in setting up the plot and the ending was so abrupt. Ms. Hoag never spent time setting up the monster villian but spent two much time on the whining of "Jack and Laurel". I got tired of the phrase "I should have left" Actually it should have been me, that left this book. This will be my last reading of this authors work.