I found this book to be one of Thompson's most complex and interesting books. She creates a tale of a girl missing for years whose body turns up wrapped in plastic after a flood in the Ohio River. Shortly afterward, Dara's diary is found, giving clues as to who might have killed her. Christine Ireland, a woman who knew Dara and found the diary, sets out to find the killer, therefore putting her own life in danger.Christine's dilemna lies in the fact that she learns too late that the finding of the diary has also jeopardized the safety of her mentally challenged brother, Jeremy. Luckily, Thompson walks a fine line in characterizing Jeremy. While he is "slow," with an IQ of 70, he is not "cutsy" nor helpless. Think Forrest Gump--stong and skilled in some ways, childlike in others.I admit to being an avid fan of Thompson's, and in this book, I feel she has not only created a dark and haunting story, but several unforgettable characters.