Wow! This is a book you might not want to read in public because people may stare as you gasp, cringe, cover your eyes, cheer. It totally involved me and held me to the last word. I probably wouldn't recommend it to the extremely squeamish or faint of heart, but it IS a thriller, after all. This writer can really write! Having spent time in Tucson, Catalina and San Manuel, the setting felt authentic to me. It can be harsh there. The protagonist is complex, unique, scary-gutsy, and smart. I liked her, even though she did make me shake my head from time to time. It's a 5 star for its genre. I predict a best seller and the first in a series. (I hope, I hope.) I would look forward to more from this author.

When first reading the description of this book I was a little leery. However, it took very little time and I was completely wrapped up in it. I hardly put it down. My husband, who doesn't often read fiction, read it too and has high praise for it. I learned about so many diverse things and, in the process, was royally entertained. The author's writing is very smooth. You are THERE when you read this. The transitions between 1899 and 2000 are so artfully done the reader hardly notices it. Author Schulman states she read over 70 books in addition to having spent time in Africa, before writing this. That comes through. To tie so much information into a fascinating story is really the gift.