Guterson's imagery is superb throughout the book but the drama of the court room fell short when the wife failed to tell what she knew and the japanese fisherman refusing to talk. That was lame and in need of some form of "deus ex machina" and not the predictable newsman coming up with the solution that somehow evaded the sheriff. But I am on to "East of Mountains" to see if a seamless plot is possible for Guterson.