4.5, plus half a star for a Missouri author. Lots of attention to detail in the writing that keeps twisting the reader’s experience and perception. The pattern of revealing a character’s flaws, then explaining the flaws became a bit predictable, but never what the flaws or explanations were. This pattern also lent itself to making the entire cast of characters more developed in their own right. I especially appreciated that the ending was left a bit open, but not completely dark.

The extra half star is in appreciation for a well represented array of Midwestern vernacular, which was well handled by the reader in the audiobook.