Every Last One by Anna Quindlen

Many novels by Anna Quindlen deal with people living ordinary lives until extraordinary circumstances change things forever.

In "Every Last One" we meet the family of Mary Beth Latham. Mary Beth and husband Glen are typical American parents dealing with the problems of raising children in modern society. Mary Beth does her best to meet the needs of 3 teen-agers, worrying about their social and self-esteem issues.

Then, suddenly and tragically, their familial structure is altered forever. A homicidal intruder murders Glen and two of Mary Beth's children. The third son is on a ski vacation with friends. Mary Beth is critically injured from brutal knife wounds.

While the physical scars are slow to heal, the emotional toll seems impossible to overcome. For months Mary Beth exists in a meaningless fog, unsure how to overcome her tremendous loss.

When we learn of a shocking revelation from her past, we come to realize that even normal appearing families may harbor secrets. Other facts come to light that make some sense of the brutal crime.

The first half of this fascinating novel introduces us to a very likable Latham clan. We become acquainted in detail with each family member, as well as their friends, relatives and some acquaintances not so well thought of. All characters are so realistically portrayed, that when the unspeakable happens, we truly experience the horror and fear it produces. You may find your heart beating a little more rapidly upon hearing sounds in the night. Even though you have read many murder mysteries and police novels, none will produce the reaction you experience in this gripping tale.

Quindlen is a talented writer who will catch you up in a seemingly pleasant tale, only to blast you with the unexpected. Don't expect to finish it, and toss it aside. This one will roll around in your head for quite some time. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it an 8.