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Theo Bogart, a British expat, is living in San Francisco after fleeing the publicity following her mother's murder by her father. She's adopted a new name and, while her inheritance means she wouldn't have to work in the US, she has also opened a soap and fragrances shop in the storefront of the dilapidated building she purchased to renovate and live in. She and her partner, a friend who is helping with the remodeling, have both become integral members of a small community that shares a garden-like park surrounded by their buildings.
The book opens as a murder takes place that casts all members of the community under suspicion and threatens to unravel Theo's cover story. As Cox peels away the layers of relationships in the community, the plot becomes more and more complicated – especially when another murder is uncovered. Theo is just starting to consider a relationship with a newcomer in the neighborhood when the murders occur, and she becomes more and more suspicious of him as the book progresses. But there are plenty of other possible candidates for murderer, as well.
Since Theo is connected to everyone in the surrounding buildings in one way or another, she doesn't bother to lock the back door that opens on the garden when she walks her dog. This turns out to be a mistake when she encounters an intruder on her washing machine. He doesn't seem to want to harm her, just to get away. Who is he, why was he there, is there a connection with the murder? These are all questions that she asks and that also stymie the police.
Each one of the characters is well developed, and Cox does a great job of dropping hints along the way about their true natures. Much happens in the approximately 300 pages of this book, but there is enough detail provided in a sideward glance, a frown at the wrong time, and other behavioral quirks that the reader remains focused on character rather than plot. The author brings the entire neighborhood to life, encouraging the reader to care about each and every character.
There are some questions that remain unanswered, including how Theo managed to move from England to San Francisco under an assumed name, buy property, and open a business. However, if the reader is willing to suspend a little disbelief, the read is entertaining and rewarding. This is a debut that doesn't appear to be the start of a series. But I wouldn't mind reconnecting with the members of this San Francisco neighborhood in the future, and I do wonder how her new life there turns out for Theo.
§ Sharon Mensing is the Head of School of Emerald Mountain School, an independent school in the mountains of Colorado, where she lives, reads, and enjoys the outdoors.
Reviewed by Sharon Mensing, February 2016
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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