This isn't a stupid beach read. It's a suspenseful, entertaining, often funny book that reflects both the comforting and the unsettling parts of suburban life. As Blauner fans know, this author has been quietly carving out a unique niche-- combining serious fiction (deeply drawn characters and detailed social observations) with very readable, highly enjoyable plotting. No warmed-over serial killers here but something more sophisticated and rare--flesh and blood characters whose hidden flaws and deep secrets bring about their downfall. Unlike the exhausted prose of some big name authors, Blauner still works for every line. His beautifully rendered descriptions will make you see ordinary things in your own life in a new way. A gem.