Suburban desperation

Abbott's new novel is both a thriller and an exploration of the sibling dynamics of the Bishop sisters.

Harper Bishop is broke, has a low-paying job, and has nowhere to live. So when her sister Pam suggests she move in to save up some money, Harper accepts. Once living with Pam and her daughter, Harper is surprised to realize that Pam, who's just gone through an expensive and contentious divorce, seems to have money to spare. And Pam isn't the only one. Debra, the third Bishop sister, who has been struggling financially because of her husband's chronic illness is also now doing fine. When Harper begins to question the newfound largess, her sisters bring her into the Wheel. 

The Wheel is a secretive "investment group" of women in Grosse Pointe. New members can buy in with $5000 and eventually get their investment returned to them five-fold. But what starts out as a seemingly positive way for women to support other women soon begins to feel like something more sinister to Harper. When someone is killed and the women of the Wheel fear exposure, there's no telling how it will all end up. Now the sisters not only fear financial pain, they worry that their own secrets will all come out.

Abbott builds her story carefully, bit by bit, as the women are drawn in. I loved the complex characterizations and the slow, but steady, ramping up of the tension as you watch each bad decision made and the progression to violence. Beautifully done.