Like an Erma Bombeck femme whose personal sphere is defined by fixing her broken microwave and washing her dirty macaroni-and-cheese skillet, Maddie (who calls herself ``the perpetual virgin of Frog Point'') has always been a good girl, a good wife, a good daughter, and a good mother to her precious eight-year-old daughter Em. It all begins when Maddie Faraday of Frog Point, Ohio-where gossip is the major sport and everyone knows everyone else's business-finds a pair of crotchless black lace underpants under the seat of her husband's Cadillac. On her way to self-actualization and a worthy lover, a small-town girl enters a classic merry chase of general upheaval. I would have preferred to have that little tidbit held back, thank you very much.Despite that, I enjoyed the story enough to read more of Crusie’s work.A popular paperback author dives headfirst into familiar territory: the mystery romance. This meant I spent several chapters asking, 'Is he dead yet?' 'Maybe he’s dead now?' only to have him show up in the next scene. His murder is announced on the back of the book, but you are 60% of the way through the book (literally!) before he actually kicks it. The one part of the book that really bothered me was her husband’s death.
I was a little iffy on her daughter, Emily, and questioned whether the scenes from her point of view were really necessary or just there to force us into some emotional connection with her.Some readers have mentioned that the police investigation(s) in this book don’t make a whole lot of sense, but I am 100% capable of suspending disbelief in a story like this - it’s not meant to be a police procedural. Maddie was a little flightly and irrational (throwing away the evidence of your husband’s infidelity? leaving suspiciously found cash where it can be found?), but likable enough. Having grown up in a town of 1200 people (in a good year), I can relate. Maddie is a pretty average mom and wife, living in a small town where not only does everyone know your business, but they’ll tell your mother too.
This was my first Jennifer Crusie read, and I was pleased with it for the most part.
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