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Small sample size, I admit, but they provide evidence that Atkinson doesn't know how to properly structure a novel. I can't remember any other book or author I've experienced where the writing is skewed so much to character background so early on. Kate, these things are to be sprinkled throughout the narrative as we read, like a trail of breadcrumbs. Not data-dumped on us in one go, with one out of eight paragraphs being the actual - you know - story. It was beyond frustrating to read multiple paragraphs of background, get one about the present story - Olivia walks from one room to another! - and then back to the backstory. Shockingly poor work. It's a shame, because the prose itself is not bad.

Also, the Back Bay edition I have didn't bother to give a plot blurb at all - not on the back cover, not inside the front cover, just pages of glowing reviews.