A TV crime drama comes to the page

Lupton, Rosamund. Sister. New York: Crown Publishers, 2010.

Sister is compelling, like a good episode of a crime drama. As main character Beatrice tells the British equivalent of a district attorney the story of her against-all-odds investigation of her sister's murder, the reader is sucked in. It's easy to overlook clumsier parts of the writing (or editing), like a character misnamed in one place, a few typos, or overuse of the word "intimate," when the tale grabs so forcefully. Who killed Tess and why? We need to know.

The answer, when it comes, is a little far-fetched, but certainly no more so that movies and TV shows we see all the time. It's a medical drama greatly personalized by the connection between the sisters and many characters' overwhelming desire for their future children to be healthy despite genetic inclinations. It's what happens after that answer that gives me pause. I would have thought that the whodunit gave enough of a jolt to the story's conclusion, but instead Lupton provides another twist. This diversion brings into question parts of the story that seemed important and doesn't seem to serve a greater purpose. I could have done without it.

Up till then, I was pleased with Sister and found myself looking forward to lunch and couch-time when I could give it some attention. That doesn't happen all that often, so I have to give the book credit. It's as tenacious as its main character.

Rating: **1/2