From Publishers Weekly
In this weak follow-up to his Edgar-nominated debut Deadstick, Faherty features one real and one fake suicide attempt and lots of tortured soul-searching by an uncompelling cast, but no real crime. Amateur detective and former seminarian Owen Keane is hired by Harold Ohlman Sr. to find out why Harry Jr., Owen's college pal, is taking so long to recover from the shock of his wife Mary's death. Although the auto accident was clearly not Harry's fault, the young widower is practically hiding out at the New Jersey shore, and Harry Sr. wants him back at the family law firm. Owen, who once loved Mary, resists taking the job but is swayed by Mary's little daughter, who looks just like her mother. Owen shadows Harry (who's mainly trying to paint) and becomes involved with a mysterious beauty until everything comes neatly together. The only blood shed is that of Owen, who cuts his hand. The most interesting character is a feisty nonegenarian nun.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
An introspective second appearance for former seminarian- turned-investigator Owen Keane (Deadstick), who's now hired by his old college friend's father to watch over the grieving Harry--in the midst of a ``spiritual crisis''--and, if possible, to return him to the family legal fold. After his wife Mary died in a car accident six months ago, Harry retired to Spring Lake, New Jersey, to jog and paint and, more psychologically damaging, to pretend Mary was still alive. Owen, too, is grieving for Mary, his college sweetheart, and must come to terms with his loss. Also struggling with the concept of death (and grief, guilt, and deceit) is the mysterious Diana, who tempts the priest over at St. Brigid's, seduces Owen, and appears in most of Harry's more tormented paintings. But as the three men own up to their own shortcomings, emotional blinders and doubts, they are less gulled by Diana, who seems determined to reenact the tragedy of the Victorian-era suicide that still haunts the lakeside community and casts a pall over St. Brigid's. Moving study of men wrestling with the lies they tell themselves about women, and with the lies women tell them. Minimal detective work here, but a heady read nonetheless. --
Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
