A Little Death
A former teacher and writer of children's history books, Wilson delivers a superb debut novel that's more literary fiction than genre mystery. With delicious stealth, Wilson reveals a chilling, amoral and degenerative murderer, whose true nature only becomes apparent to the reader in small, subtle increments. Told in three alternating first-person narratives (by willful Georgina, her wishy-washy brother, Edmund, and their lifelong servant, Ada), the story maintains razor-sharp suspense to the last page. Set in Victorian England, the prominent and respected Lomax family becomes overwhelmed by tragedy when Mrs. Lomax dies in childbirth and her four-year-old son, Freddie, is murdered. A feeble-minded servant is blamed for Freddie's death, and the Lomax paterfamilias withdraws into isolation and eccentricity. Tracing the course of the Lomax family, Wilson presents a tour de force reminiscent of Barbara Vine. (Oct.)Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.