The first part of this book was really very difficult to get through. The main characters--Col. Behrani, Kathy Nicolo and Sheriff Lester Burdon--were all so deeply flawed and frankly, unpleasant people whom I never would like to meet in real life. However as you read on, the conflict they were embroiled in was simply so compelling. The suspense, as written by Andre Dubus III, was so intense and unbearable. You would certainly want to know how the conflict will be developed. The way it was built up by the author, you can feel the tragedy a mile away. You cannot put the book down until you find out what happens.

Kathy Nicolo is a down and out young woman who has just lost her house due to a county tax department error. Col. Behrani is an immigrant from Persia where he used to be very rich. He bought Kathy's house in a county auction for a fraction of the market price, and wanted to sell the house for profit. Lance Burdon is the sheriff who came to throw Kathy out of her house, but ended up falling illicitly in love with her, willing to do everything to help Kathy with her predicament.

I have not seen the movie made from this book, but maybe I should check it out. I could not help seeing Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley when I imagine the situations with Kathy and Col. Behrani were described in the book. Overall, this book is well worth the time spent reading, that is, if you do not mind the dark painful atmosphere and escalating tensions. Although I feel that the last third of the book was so over-the-top and unrealistic, I would still give this book a four star rating on the basis of the excellent handling of the emotional and moral dilemmas involved by the author.