CHARLEY’S WEB
Joy Fielding
Atria Books
Mystery
ISBN: 9780743296014

Palm Beach Post columnist Charlotte (Charley) Webb frequently gets fan mail, and occasionally hate mail, usually just from an offended subscriber with an urge to vent. But most of the hate mail does not get up close and personal, at least not to the point of threatening Charley’s children. Of course, any of her astute readers knows she has children because she writes about all sorts of life’s experiences, including her kids’ antics, in her column. And now one of those astute readers has threatened them.
 
Single mother of two, sister to three, disowned daughter of a self-proclaimed bitter old man and recently reclaimed child of a runaway mom, Charley has a host of family issues to deal with. Real whoppers. But her children -– Franny, her serious eight-year-old daughter, and James, her younger, more artistic son --- mean everything to her. Maybe because of her dysfunctional background or because she just loves them with her whole heart; whatever the reason, any hint of danger surrounding the two sends Charley into a panic.
 
While her life is pretty full lately, Charley has been going through a dry spell when it comes to men. That’s okay, though, because she’s not sure she’s all that successful in the relationship arena. In fact, she’s not sure she’s successful at a lot of things: being a good friend (she has none), or neighbor (she annoys hers), or co-worker (she doesn’t talk to them). She’s convinced, though, that she excels in her parenting skills.
 
Everything seems to be going along fine (considering) until Charley gets a letter from convicted child killer Jill Rohmer. The letter proposes that Charley write a book revealing the true story behind the murders. What writer could resist such an offer? Certainly not Charley. Visions of fame and fortune cloud her judgment, and she takes a trip out to the prison to interview Jill. Meeting the killer face to face is unsettling, but Charley becomes intrigued. She makes another trip, and then another; their meetings become a weekly ritual. As the story unfolds slowly, Jill begins to hint at an accomplice in the killings. 
 
Alex Prescott, Jill’s attorney, accompanies Charley on several visits, despite his apparent lack of enthusiasm for the book project. Charley tries to stay objective, but it’s been a while since she’s had a beau. Alex looks pretty good, especially to a pretty, thirtysomething woman in want of at least companionship, if not more.
 
Soon, Charley is in the midst of high drama, a budding relationship and guilt at the growing fracture in her family. Listening to a heartless murderer of three innocent children makes Charley hypersensitive to her own kids, and memories of her own childhood make her want more for Franny and James. But the threats keep coming and Charley doesn’t know who to trust. She turns to a friend for help because she fears Jill’s accomplice may have his own agenda. And he does. Indeed, he does.
 
Part romance, part mystery and thoroughly entertaining, CHARLEY’S WEB by New York Times and award-winning author Joy Fielding will make you want to take a keener look at your family and gather them close around you, in spite of your differences. Maybe because of them.

   --- Reviewed by Kate Ayers

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