What I enjoyed most are the characters in the story whose personalities and quirks persisted to the end. I liked especially those who stood on the sidelines such as the bubbly Kim; the librarian, Mrs. Cleaver, who would sneak out for a smoke; the honorable Dr. Berlins; the ready-to-help Candice and the peculiar Nose. The children of Lomax were also endearing, as well as Deputy Dawg. However, Julia remained cold throughout and I could not empathize with her miseries and loneliness even at the end. I know that there is a connection with Lomax' resolution of his earlier suspicions regarding Dr. Berlins that contributed to his change in the end but I could not really feel it the way I wanted to. I think that there should have been more in the final confrontation between Lomax and Julia.

This book is fairly interesting, but with a distinct lack of cohesion throughout. After the second read, it becomes apparent that most of the book is poorly developed and that the only suspense and interest is from the rather unusual and surprising ending - which could also have been a lot better with some serious development. (I almost missed it totally the first time round)

One of the best mystery suspense novels I've ever read, and I'm very critical! Extremely literate, complex, and believable, as well as being very very creepy. Read it practically all at one sitting, couldn't put it down. Up there with Presumed Innocent and Silence of the Lambs, don't know why it's not more popular here in the US.