Roberts develops her characters to advance her plot and her consideration of the basic themes of the novel. This is not to say that the characters are merely mouthpieces for a particular thematic or social concern.

Far from it. Although lacking in subtlety, the principal characters are convincingly and strongly drawn as men and women of action, with enough powers of reflection to keep them interesting but not enough to weigh them down. They do more than they think. Noah Brady, the son of Frank and Celia Brady is a journalist, a writer of nonfiction books about real crime, especially murder. He is also a "hunk," strong, sensitive, incredibly sexual, brilliant, perceptive, wise, and courageous. He is also possessed of a very strong and frequently exercised sex drive, yet capable also of a deep sensitivity to women, nature, mothers, and every member of Olivia's family. He works efficiently...