It's like a Russian doll: when you think you've reached the solution, the author surprises you by providing more plausible explanations that, with the addition of both relevant and irrelevant details, bring you closer to the truth until it's a perfect bull,s eye. I am fascinated by this author. His narrative style, his character building and his plot enfolding are all amazing and always startling in their unexpectedeness.
I keep reading this series for its well-depicted historical context and interesting mystery, but I'm still disappointed with Ms. Robb's weak character development.
Not just between the protagonistsLucy and Owen, where it seems trust is lacking and anger or misunderstanding quick to fuel in spite of ten years of living together and 4 children.
Also between such occasional characters like Hubert and his mother, where it's not credible that adoration should turn to hate or indifference as fast as Ms. Robb depicted.
This author falls into the trap of describing a relationship rather than letting the characters show it through their words and deeds. The result is that Ms. Robb says one thing, the characters say quite a different thing and she's forever apologizing for her characters misbehavior. Like with Lucy and Owen, the author has to remind readers how much the two love each other when in fact he's often angry at her for being too independent and she's weary because he doesn't show too much affection. There's no complicity between them, no sense of being partners and no amount of Ms. Robb's assurances can ever change that.
Incredible how the human element can beat the system!
There's nothing predictable about this book.
There's everything to enjoy.
From the way the story progresses to the behavior of the characters and even the digressions into an orderly mathematical universe, everything contributes to the suspense of this gripping roller-coaster ride until you don't know what is true and what is false.
And then, just when you think you had everything figured out, here comes that unpredictable human element capable of defeating even the most perfect of machinations, so everything changes again and nothing will ever be the same again.
Needless to say, I loved every minute of it!