A Field of Darkness

February 13, 2006
Read's impressive debut stars the unusual Madeline Dare, a jumble of contradictions who comes from an old-money Long Island family but is married to Dean, a railroad worker, in Syracuse, N.Y., which our heroine likens in a moment of exasperation to "some mental dust bowl." Dean's job requires frequent travel, while Madeline writes fluff features for the local newspaper. Nothing in her background prepares her for trying to solve the bizarre 20-year-old murder of two young women, a crime that her cousin, Lapthorne Townsend, might have been involved in. Read writes with verve and passion as Madeline sets out to clear her cousin's name, an effort that develops into a much larger, life-changing struggle. Some readers may find Madeline's volatile character less than credible, but the fine supporting cast—notably husband Dean and flaky, flamboyant friend Ellis—consistently delights. The author's sharp social commentary on everything from the idle rich to the environment adds to the pleasure. 5-city author tour.

Starred review from March 15, 2006
Madeline Dare, a product of -old money - (but with no money herself) and husband Dean, the son of a farmer, lead a simple no-frills kind of life in Syracuse, NY, just barely getting by. By chance, she discovers a link between a decades-old unsolved murder and her favorite cousin -one of the few wealthy relatives with whom she still has any sort of bond. In hopes of clearing him, this small-time newspaper reporter embarks on an investigation that ultimately endangers herself and just about everyone she knows. First novelist Read offers a great take on the world of the moneyed and the differences between those who have and those who don't. With her hysterically funny dialog and inspired views on life, Read is a delight to, well -&read. One hopes this is the first in what will be a very prolific writing career. Recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Mystery, "LJ" 1/06.]" -Caroline Mann, Univ. of Portland Lib., OR"

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from March 15, 2006
Every page is a pleasure in this mystery debut featuring barb-wielding, ex-debutante Madeline Dare. A newspaper reporter trapped among the white trash (or "garbage blanc") of Syracuse, New York, she becomes enmeshed in the 20-year-old unsolved murder of two young hippies. The case was dubbed "the Rose Girls," for the thorny crowns encircling the victims' heads. Madeline's preposterously preppy cousin, Lapthorne Townsend, is among the suspects; his army dog tags were found at the scene of the crime. But Madeline believes he's far too feckless to engage in foul play. Bent on exonerating him, she sets out to retrace the Rose Girls' final hours, reportedly spent in the company of two soldiers at the New York State Fair. Read's plot crackles and pops, but her characters steal the show. Among them: a shifty-eyed silhouettist, a lustful livestock auctioneer, and in-laws who make the cast of " Deliverance "seem urbane. Madeline's own parents are irrepressible, too. "Mealtime conversation," writes Read, "was like watching Fellini and Wodehouse drop acid." This is sure to be loved by fans of comic mysteries, but don't be surprised if Tom Wolfe readers are equally smitten by Read's venomously witty portrait of a fallen WASP.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)