Evocative and gripping
I loved this book. Tripp does a fantastic job of establishing time and place - it's a great look at a small, isolated New England town during the prohibition era. The characters are well-drawn and stick with you long after you finish reading, especially Bridge. There are moody, evocative descriptions, but there's also a strong plot that ends with a dramatic twist. The last pages are among the most haunting and bittersweet I've read in a long time. Usually books rely on atmosphere or on character or on plot - it's a pleasure to find a novel that is equally strong in all three areas.