Reviewing books is often disappointing and so it�s always a pleasure to review one that is rewarding instead. Dayna Rubin�s book fools you a bit (no, not the old clich� that you can�t tell a book from its cover, although the cover photo stirred up some old memories of happy days in the woods) with its chapter heading/comments. It�s a writing technique that usually turns me off, as I really don�t want to be clued into what�s ahead. I read a lot of books (often as many as six or eight in a week) and think I�m a sophisticated reader � not necessarily a sophisticated reviewer but I try to give every author a fair shot. The technique was prevalent in the 19th Century but has pretty much been dropped in modern writing (thank goodness) and Ms. Rubin�s book doesn�t need these hints to lead the reader onward. OK, enough pettifogging.

Ms. Rubin can write well and does so in this collection of plots and sub-plots. I suspect she will write even better as she pursues her writing career � and that�s not a criticism of this current work. Her story evolves nicely after a very image-provoking description of the automobile/truck crash that sets the stage for what�s ahead. If I have any real criticism of her style is that she wraps her dialogue too deeply within descriptive passages. I read and re-read everything by George V. Higgins (sadly departed), who was a master of dialogue. He recognized early on that his readers could follow who was saying what much better if descriptive passages appeared in separate paragraphs and dialogue stood apart. I�d like to see the author embrace that technique a lot more � it makes for easier plot following without distraction as background details. A minor point perhaps but, since Ms. Rubin will obviously continue writing, she might explore the matter further.

Finally, since I don�t have to spend much time on the contents (it�s summarized a bit too succinctly on the rear cover) in this review, I can also take on Ms. Rubin�s little reader quiz following the end of the story. I think it might make sense as an adjunct to an assigned reading in a high school literary class but probably more to double-check who read it and who didn�t. It�s a bit of a trick and the book doesn�t need tricks. It�s well written, logically set out and exciting to a great degree. It stands on its own merits and asking me if the title works turns me off � both as a reviewer and a recreational reader. We rate books on a scale leading up to �Must Read.� No, you don�t have to read Ms. Rubin�s book but, after all my nitpicking, if you elect to do so you will not be disappointed and will come away with some very vivid images in mind. And, competing against our electronic imaging world, having your imagination called into play is well worth the effort. Keep writing, Dayna, you are headed in a good direction and I would be pleased to read your next offering.