http://cscs.umich.edu/~crshalizi/weblog/algae-2011-07.html#george ( )

I cannot say what exactly I didn't like about this book. The plot was decent the characters interesting and reasonably well-developed but there was just something about the action (seemed to jump from character to character and the transitions were IMHO non-existent) and/or writing style that just didn't do it for me. ( )

Dr. Dan Ross is a well liked physician in Pittsburgh. He's murdered, leaving behind his bewildered, grieving wife, Elizabeth.

Commander Richard Christie is the man investigating Dan's murder. He's most sympathetic and understanding. He asks Elizabeth if she can think of anyone who would want to hurt Dan. After thinking, she suggests that it might have something to do with Pocusset Safe House, a home for troubled teens that her husband founded.

Across the street from Elizabeth is a man pretending to stretch as he watches her house. Then he notices that the next door neighbors are moving and persuades them to let him rent the house so he could be closer to Elizabeth.

His name is Frank Razzi and he seems strange and possibly dangerous. He's a script writer and part time teacher who spends much time going back and forth for teaching assignments. His life has been a failure and his object in watching Elizabeth is a mystery.

The action is slow in developing and there's not much drama. I didn't care for Frank and although Elizabeth is grieving, I felt that she was self absorbed and naive.

Frank has secrets and knows who killed Elizabeth's husband but to spread this thin plot over an entire book is too long. ( )