Single mother Charley Webb writes a weekly column for the Palm Beach Post. Sometimes considered lightweight, always controversial, her career faces a potential change in direction when she receives a letter from convicted child killer Jill Rohmer. Jill wants Charley to write her biography, offering to reveal information about the murders which had not been made known at her trial.
As Charley makes regular visits to Pembroke Correctional in the course of her research, she discovers someone of complex nature. She can see the dangers of accepting things at face value as she tries to reconcile the delicate, soft spoken young woman with the individual convicted for the torture and brutal sex slayings of three young children.
Jill constantly protests that she loved the children in her care and had not wanted them to die. However, she demonstrates bouts of sullenness and talks matter-of-factly about the abuse suffered in her own family as she grew up. She also proves an inquisitive subject. Having expressed admiration for Charley in her initial letter, Jill peppers their conversations with questions about Charley’s own personal life. Dealing with a broken family network of parents and siblings and keeping neighbours at a distance, while trying to provide a loving home for her two children, Charley has already revealed much of her personal situation through her column. She is capable of holding her own with Jill and is determined to keep her focused on the purpose of their meetings. She never concedes to Jill’s reference to them as friends. However, she does answer the occasional question, hoping her subject will offer details about the mysterious ‘Jack’ whom she claims directed the killings.
The slaughter of children is always disturbing and Joy Fielding never lets us forget that. She gives sufficient detail to keep this in our heads but does not plaster the page with gratuitous violence. She cleverly manoeuvres the reader’s suspicions and hold the interest, maintains suspense throughout and creates a surprising though logical ending.
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Mary Andrea Clarke