A Field of Darkness

I can't say enough good things about this book. It's a debut by Cornelia Read, who grew up much like her protagonist, Madeline Dare, in old money (so old that it was gone) and the Connecticut/Hamptons/Manhattan crowd who have money and breeding-it's a crap shot on the brains, though. Madeline is married in 1988 and living in hell, otherwise known as Syracuse, NY. She hates it, wants to get out and is waiting for her husband (who comes and goes due to his job on the railroad) to make enough money on his invention so they can get out of Dodge. But her father-in-law finds a set of dog tags with the name Lapthorne on them-found not far from where two girls were murdered 12 years ago. And Madeline has a cousin Lapthorne-so what's going on? Her natural curiosity, not to mention a sense of justice, drags her into the bosom of her very proper family-although she would be safer amongst enemies. Yes, the story is great but Madeline herself is the reason to read this book. Funny, acerbic and caring with enough bravery and fear to make her real-she's fabulous. The author said in an interview that Madeline is her as she would like to be-funnier, braver, more daring-and I dare anyone to read this book and not want to hang out with Madeline. She can come and hang out with my friend D and I-we'd have a great time.