So, you know from the get go that Oliver is not a nice man. The opening line pretty much lays it out.

"I expected more of a reaction the first time I hit her."

But what made him snap? What did poor Alice do to deserve her fate? The multiple view points, presented as conversations or interviews with the characters, teases out Oliver's past. Nothing could condone his actions, but you end up wanting to really understand what drove him. The only person whose point of view you don't hear is Alice, which disappointed and intrigued me. What did she suspect, why did she stay so long?

I found the discussions about the Catholic Church, and how much power the church had over the every day life in Ireland during the decades between the 50's and 80's so fascinating. Whether directly or indirectly, the church influenced the actions of most all the characters.

Oliver knows there is something wrong with him. He'd made a life for himself that he didn't truly earn, and his secrets, as well as the secrets of his father, came back to haunt him. I read this book over the course of 24 hours, I didn't want to put it down! Highly recommend to everyone!