This book was tragically beautiful. The range of The characters lives and situations, as well as the interweaving if their lives, seemed to be done almost effortlessly. I loved the random paragraphs where a neighbor or otherwise random character's life was broken down into a few sentences. Harsh and to the point. Amazing that she could tell so many little stories perfectly among the larger tales. They were all so simple, sad, poignant. This book painted a wonderful picture of an almost unbelievable life where you almost have to disappear in order to live with experiencing one of so many possible sorrows...but there is no happiness in such loneliness either. To be the betrayer or the betrayed...there are no happy endings here. But she described everyone in such a way that you felt sorry for them all, no matter what you believe yourself, very tenderly. It was a very very moving book.

This was my first, at least on purpose, retelling of a classic story. One that I love. I think Jane Eyre is by far one of the best and most romantic love stories...which is why I chose to read this one. I can't say if that was smart or not. I really enjoyed this book. I think the parallels with Jane Eyre were wonderful without taking it quite too far, which I think would have made the reading of it boring. And I have always loved stories in and about Scotland, so obviously that drew me to this book as well. I think perhaps I only gave it 3 stars because I liked Jane Eyre so much and that's hard to live up to. Perhaps had I read this and not read Jane Eyre, it would have been 4. Who can say? But credit to the author for writing a great book that I wanted to keep reading and a wonderful love story that grows with the characters. Beautifully developed and fun to read.

Great mystery story. Nothing deep or crazy, but enjoyable.